title: Red flags to screen for malignancy and fracture in patients with low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What are the best red flags to indicate the possibility of fracture or malignancy in patients presenting with low back pain in primary, secondary, or tertiary care?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older age, prolonged corticosteroid use, severe trauma, and presence of a contusion or abrasion increase the likelihood of spinal fracture (likelihood was higher with multiple red flags); a history of malignancy increases the likelihood of spinal malignancy.
authors.affiliation: George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Aron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downie
authors.affiliation: George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henschke
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Raymond W J G
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ostelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Henrica C W
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: de Vet
authors.affiliation: Screening and Test Evaluation Program (STEP), School of Public Health, Sydney.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macaskill
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irwig
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maurits W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van Tulder
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Koes
authors.affiliation: George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maher