This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Red flags for shoulder pain

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Red flags for the shoulder pain

Refer to Emergency Department if you suspect fracture, dislocation, or infection.

Acute severe shoulder pain needs proper and competent diagnosis. Any shoulder "red flags" identified during primary care assessment needs urgent secondary care referral (1):

  • suspected infected joint needs same day urgent referral
  • unreduced dislocation needs same day urgent referral
  • suspected malignancy or tumour needs urgent referral following the local 2-week cancer referral pathway
  • an acute cuff tear as a result of a traumatic event needs urgent referral and ideally should be seen in the next available outpatient clinic
  • suspected inflammatory oligo or poly-arthritis or systemic inflammatory disease should be considered as a 'rheumatological red flag' and local rheumatology referral pathways should be followed

Reference:


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.