Table 6 Justifications for diagnostic imaging that do not reflect the use of mainstream guidelines received by DACBRs from referring chiropractors (Item 26, N = 42)
Response | Number of respondents |
|---|---|
No red flags | 4 |
No history | 5 |
Equivocal exam findings | 1 |
Uncomplicated back or neck pain | 6 |
Subluxation analysis | 4 |
No symptoms | 2 |
Allergies | 1 |
Postural analysis (not for scoliosis) | 3 |
‘Rule out pathology’ | 3 |
Looking for anomalies | 1 |
‘Has never been x-rayed before’ | 1 |
‘Scoliosis assessment’ in patient with straight back | 1 |
Failure to use Ottawa ankle/knee rules | 2 |
Routine for motor vehicle accidents | 1 |
‘Something just isn’t right’ | 1 |
Rule out contraindications to adjustment | 3 |
‘Tightness’ or ‘soreness’ | 1 |
Minimal trauma | 2 |
Full spine films on every patient without regard for symptoms or age | 1 |
Areas imaged do not correlate to symptoms | 5 |
Young person being assessed for degenerative changes | 1 |
Repeat imaging due to recent prior imaging not being available | 1 |
No clear or specific justification | 2 |
Rule out disc herniation | 1 |
Segmental dysfunction | 1 |
‘Chiropractic evaluation’ | 1 |
‘Positive posterior lumbar instability test, rule out spondylolisthesis’ | 1 |
Postural change over time | 1 |
Post treatment | 2 |
‘Wellness care’ | 1 |
‘3 region subluxations’ | 1 |
Lumbar oblique images for intervertebral foraminal stenosis | 1 |
Follow up on scoliosis well past skeletal maturity | 1 |