IFOMPT AFRICA Pre Symposium Workshop: Laura Finucane, MSc, MMACP

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.