Table 2 Suggested “Red Flags” for Triage of Patients Seeking Nonemergency Care for Neck Pain*
From: Diagnostic imaging for spinal disorders in the elderly: a narrative review
Suggested "Red Flags" | Definition |
|---|---|
Trauma: Suspected Fragility Fracture | Minor or no trauma but decreased bone mass due to osteoporosis or corticosteroid therapy |
Tumor/Cancer/Malignancy | Previous history of cancer, unexplained weight loss, failure to improve with a month of therapy |
Spinal Cord Compromise | Cervical myelopathy (where about half of patients with cervical myelopathy have pain in their neck or arms; most have symptoms of arm, leg or, uncommonly, bowel and bladder dysfunction) |
Systemic Diseases | Ankylosing spondylitis or other inflammatory arthritis |
Infections | Intravenous drug abuse, urinary tract infection, or skin infection |
Pain | Intractable pain, tenderness over vertebral body |
Prior Medical History | Previous neck surgery |