Red flags to screen for malignancy and fracture in patients with low back pain.
Downie, Aron 1,2; Williams, Christopher M 1; Henschke, Nicholas 1,3; Hancock, Mark J 4; Ostelo, Raymond W J G 5; de Vet, Henrica C W 6; Macaskill, Petra 7; Irwig, Les 8; van Tulder, Maurits W 9; Koes, Bart W 10; Maher, Christopher G 1
[Miscellaneous]
British Journal of Sports Medicine.
48(20):1518, October 2014.
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STUDY QUESTION: What are the best red flags to indicate the possibility of fracture or malignancy in patients presenting with low back pain in primary, secondary, or tertiary care?
SUMMARY ANSWER: Older age, prolonged corticosteroid use, severe trauma, and presence of a contusion or abrasion increase the likelihood of spinal fracture (likelihood was higher with multiple red flags); a history of malignancy increases the likelihood of spinal malignancy.
(C) 2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine