Kyi L, et al. - Researchers performed a 36-month retrospective, observational study on patients presenting to the emergency department with back pain who were subsequently admitted to 1 of 3 general medicine units (GM) or a rheumatology unit (RU). They wanted to assess the management and clinical outcomes of patients with acute back pain admitted to hospital under GM when compared to a RU. The present data indicated that non-English speaking background, age ≥ 80 years, disc-related disease, vertebral fracture, and sciatica were statistically significantly related to both increased length of stay (LOS) and complications. It was noted that GM admission was correlated with a longer LOS and more complications than RU admission. Given the observed variations in back pain management between general and specialty units, strategies to standardize care ought to be considered.