Table 1 Red Flags [17]

Cancer

Saddle anesthesia

Unexplained weight loss

Loss of anal sphincter tone

Immunosuppression

Major motor weakness in lower extremities

Prolonged use of steroids

Fever

Intravenous drug use

Vertebral tenderness

Urinary tract infection

Limited spinal range of motion

Pain that is increased or unrelieved by rest

Neurologic findings persisting beyond one month

Fever

Significant trauma related to age (e.g., fall from a height or motor vehicle accident in a young patient, minor fall or heavy lifting in a potentially osteoporotic or older patient or a person with possible osteoporosis)

Bladder or bowel incontinence

Urinary retention (with overflow incontinence)