Pre-Symposium Workshop
Laura Finucane, MSc, MMACP
Red flags or red herrings?
Identifying serious pathology as a cause of a person’s musculoskeletal presentation
is complex. Clinicians working in musculoskeletal services can play an important role
in early identification of serious pathology ensuring that people achieve the best
possible outcome. However, early identification is challenging as serious pathologies
masquerade as a musculoskeletal condition. This workshop will review the
challenges faced by clinicians and will use the international framework for serious
pathologies to support decision making. This is an interactive workshop in which
attendees will review case studies and will be asked to consider the context within
which red flags exist and clinically reason the relevance of the information gathered
to determine if any action is required.
Objectives
Develop a better understanding of serious pathologies of the spine that can
mimic simple musculoskeletal disorders to facilitate early diagnosis.
Enhance clinical reasoning skills to consider serious pathology as a
differential diagnosis.
Develop a comprehensive subjective strategy to explore serious pathology
risk.
Develop a better understanding of risk factors for serious pathology.