Skip to main content

Table 2 Summary of causes of referred pain

From: The role of hybrid bone SPECT/CT imaging in the work-up of the limping patient: a symptom-based and joint-oriented review

Area of pain sensation

Referred pain etiology

Knee

Low back

• Facet joint arthropathy

• Discopathy

• Malignancy

Hip

• Osteoarthritis

• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis

• Trauma

Sacroiliac joint

• Osteoarthritis

• Malignancy

Thigh

Low back

• Facet joint arthropathy

• Discopathy

• Malignancy

Knee

• Osteoarthritis

Sacroiliac joint

• Osteoarthritis

• Malignancy

Soft tissue

• Kidney

• Ureter

Low back

Knee

• Osteoarthritis (infrequent cause of referred pain to the low back)

Sacroiliac joint

• Osteoarthritis

• Malignancy

Soft tissue

• Kidney

• Ureter

• Liver

• Pancreas

• Bowel

• Aortic aneurysm