Red flag risks

• Fracture risk:

  • trauma
  • site
  • severity
  • age
  • osteoporosis
  • steroids
  • deformity
  • bony tenderness
• Infection risk:

  • open wound
  • post surgery
  • immunosuppressed
  • IV drug use
  • Fevers
  • Unwell
• Cancer risk:

  • constant unremitting pain
  • night pain
  • past history of cancer
  • family history
  • age
  • smoker
  • unwell
  • unexplained fatigue
• Inflammatory risk:

  • morning stiffness
  • multi joint involvement
  • hot/red/swollen joints
  • family hisotry
  • eye redness
  • psoriasis
  • dry eyes/mouth
  • UTI
  • stomach problems
  • enthesopathies
• Neurological risk:

  • bladder dysfunction
  • bowel dysfunction
  • saddle anaesthesia
  • sock anaesthesia
  • unsteadiness
  • multiples spinal levels changes on neural integrity examination
• Other:

  • vascular
  • renal
  • psychiatric