The International Framework for Red Flags and Serious Spinal Diseases was published in JOSPT. Kudos to the authors and JOSPT for making this important publication accessible to everyone.
Red flags are an integral part of your assessment, regardless of the field in which you work. It's a complex game, and in the context of this release, red flags have been used in the past to help clinicians identify serious spinal disorders. The problem is that the guidelines are inconsistent, which means that the pathology is overlooked or a false suspicion leads to expensive tests and examinations as well as to medicalization. This framework aims to support all health professionals by providing a standardized and consistent approach to identifying people with potentially serious spinal disorders.
It's great to see how important this framework is for clear and honest communication with people who may have severe spinal problems. The Use of this framework section shows you how to have important conversations with your patients and how you feel calmed and supported.
The focus of the framework is on providing a decision tool for the early detection of serious spinal disorders. A three-tier approach is used for this purpose. Pictures of steps 1 and 2 are available in the article itself. The decision tool is shared below.
Determine your level of concern.
Look at the evidence supporting red flags and the individual profile of the person's health factors (e.g. age, gender) to help determine your level of concern (your suspectedness index) of the presence of a serious pathology
Decide on your clinical action.
This is determined based on the level of concern you identified in step 1
Consider the way for an emergency / urgency referral.
This is specific to your local funds transfer. Definitely know your ways!
In the further course of the framework you will be taken step by step through the decision-making process for the Cauda-Equina syndrome spine fractures spinal malignancy and [spine infections ]. Each section contains risk factors, signs and symptoms as well as initial examinations for each of the pathologies listed. This includes questions that you can use in clinical practice and the context in which patients can report symptoms. It also highlights important diagnostic tools for physical assessment that you can use to assess your suspicions. You will then be guided through case studies that summarize everything to strengthen your understanding.
The level of detail used in this framework is exceptional and this framework is firmly in the "must read" category for all clinicians, regardless of your specialty and background. One of the main people responsible for the framework is Laura Finucane, who has an excellent course on Physioplus that you can complete at any time. This makes an irresistible combination to consolidate your knowledge. The link to the course is below with a little more about what to expect.
An introduction to red flags
When evaluating patients in clinical practice, it is always important to consider serious pathology as a differential diagnosis. Red flag screening questions have been developed to identify these pathologies. However, there is limited evidence of their use. How should clinicians use red flags and how do they know when to take action? This course is designed to give you an understanding of the red flags and how they can be used effectively in clinical practice.
Register now for the best introduction to Red Flags anywhere on the Internet
