Template:Back pain red flags

Back Pain Risk factors and probability of Fracture or Malignancy

Factor	Post Test Probability (95%CI)
Older Age (>65yo)	9% (3-25%)
Prolonged corticosteroid	33% (10-67%)
Severe trauma	11% (8-16%)
Presence of contusion or abrasion	62% (49-74%)
Multiple red flags	90% (34-99%)
History of malignancy	33% (22-46%)

Red Flags

Red Flag Symptoms of Low Back Pain

Symptoms	Corresponding Pathology
Age under 18 years	Congenital abnormality
Age over 50 years	Fracture, malignancy
Anticoagulant use	Spinal hematoma
Fever	Infection, malignancy
Genitourinary issues including urinary retention/incontinence or sexual dysfunction	Cauda equina syndrome
Immunocompromised	Fracture, infection
IV drug use	Infection
Recent spinal surgery or epidural injection	Infection, spinal hematoma
Trauma	Fracture, spinal hematoma

Red Flag Signs of Low Back Pain

Signs	Corresponding Pathology
Reduced anal sphincter tone	Cauda equina syndrome
Hyperreflexia	Acute cord compression
Hyporeflexia/areflexia	Cauda equina syndrome
Lower extremity muscle weakness	Acute cord compression or Cauda equina syndrome
Saddle paresthesia/anesthesia	Cauda equina syndrome
Absent or decreased bulbocavernosus reflex	Cauda equina syndrome