Vertebral Fracture: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: as a serious cause of back pain. See also Spinal Tumor as another serious cause. Red Flags are supposed to help the clinician distinguish serious from non-serious (strain and/or disc bulge) causes of back pain.

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Prevalence

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Vertebral Fracture are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Specific Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Clinical diagnosis	50%	100%	Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051
History of Corticosteroid Use	25%	100%	"prolonged use" Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051
Trauma	25%	98%	major trauma in adults or minor in elderly Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051
Sensory Level	No accuracy specified.		i.e. on the trunk Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051
Red Flags	63%	96%	for 2/4 criteria: Age>70 Female Sig Trauma Prolonged steroid use Sens/spec for 1/4 was 88%/50%; for 3/4 was 38%/100% Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051
Age	50%	96%	age > 70 Study: Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Oct;60(10):3072-80. PMID: 19790051