Red flags in the diagnostics of back pain

Background: Low back pain is one of the most commonly occurring symptomatic complaints with a lifetime prevalence of 70 %.

Objective: The question of meaningful radiological diagnostics arises in connection with the diagnostics and treatment of low back pain as the common lead symptom.

Methods: Special clinical warning signs, so-called red flags, which are indicative of a specific cause of low back pain and of the necessity for possible treatment, are presented with special reference to the national treatment guidelines on low back pain.

Results: The presence of clinical warning signs or red flags and in particular the combination of several red flags increases the probability of a specific cause of low back pain and should be examined using radiological imaging. An uncomplicated low back pain in an otherwise healthy patient does not normally necessitate imaging.