Table 1.

‘Red flag’ symptoms of back pain⁴

Sphincter and gait disturbance	Saddle anaesthesia	Severe or progressive motor loss
Widespread neurological deficit	Age <20 or >55 years	Previous malignancy
Systemic illness	Human inmmunodeficiency virus	Weight loss
Intravenous drug use	Steroid use	Structural deformity
Non-mechanical pain (no relief with bed rest)	Fever	Thoracic pain