Evidence-based red flag screening for back and neck pain. Answer structured clinical questions and receive investigation recommendations in under 3 minutes.
SpinalRisk
SpinalRisk screens for serious spinal pathology using the same red flag criteria clinicians rely on, structured as a simple guided assessment.
Name, date of birth, sex, and email. Age is a key clinical variable in spinal pathology risk, so this step matters diagnostically, not just administratively.
Five clinical categories: fracture, cancer, infection, neurological, and inflammatory. Each question is derived from current systematic review evidence and weighted by clinical significance.
Specific investigation recommendations with clinical rationale. Emergency referral, imaging with modality preference (MRI prioritised for patients over 60), pathology testing, or conservative management.
Each category is evidence-derived from current clinical guidelines and systematic reviews of spinal red flag research.
Trauma mechanism, age, osteoporosis risk, steroid use, Down Syndrome
History of malignancy, unexplained weight loss, pain at rest, age thresholds
Fever, recent infection, IV drug use, immunocompromised status
Blurred vision, fainting, limb weakness, bladder and bowel dysfunction
Multi-joint involvement, autoimmune history, prolonged morning stiffness
Whether you are a patient wondering if you need a scan, or a clinician screening in a busy practice.
You have back or neck pain and want to know if you should see a doctor about getting a scan. Complete the assessment, get an evidence-based recommendation, and share the print summary with your GP or specialist.
A structured screening tool for spinal presentations. Use it in the consult room or share the link with patients to complete in the waiting room before their appointment. Reduces unnecessary imaging referrals.
Identify which patients need onward medical referral versus conservative management. The triage summary provides clinical language and investigation rationale that supports your referral letters.
Fast, structured red flag screening at triage. The tool captures the same clinical questions ED physicians would ask, and generates a summary that integrates with clinical notes and imaging requests.
Complete the assessment below. Your results will include specific investigation recommendations with clinical rationale.