Back pain, trouble passing urine

Instructions

You are a medical student on placement in the emergency department. Your next patient is Shane Haddow, 42, a crane operator presenting with a week of low back pain that now runs down both legs and, since yesterday, trouble passing urine.

1. 1

   Take a focused history

2. 2

   Examine the patient

3. 3

   Outline to the examiner:

   • Your most likely diagnosis and differentials
   • Next steps in management, including relevant investigations

• You do not need to summarise your findings
• Please verbalise your examination; findings will be provided on request