Back pain in paediatric patients

​​Emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice via phone to on-call consultant/registrar:

  • Back pain with any of the following red flags:
    • acute onset (< 6 weeks)
    • bowel or bladder dysfunction
    • fever
    • neurological deficit
    • severe pain
    • trauma​

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.
  • Back pain associated with spondylolisthesis and normal neurology
  • Radiculopathy beyond 6 weeks where other treatments have proved unsuccessful

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.

  • Back pain associated with any of the following:
    • scoliosis
    • kyphosis
  • Persistent back pain with no red flags
    Note: red flags are listed in the Emergency criteria

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral
  • Details of the presenting condition, including evolution of symptoms and their duration
  • Provisional diagnosis
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • neurological signs (if abnormal, consider redirection to emergency)
    • treatment prescribed (analgesics, physiotherapy)
    • relevant family history (for example scoliosis)
    • x-ray: erect whole spine (or EOS) - anterior to posterior (AP) and lateral views

If available

  • MRI result of affected area
  • Other investigations (if performed)

Important information for referring health professionals

If there is a change to a patient’s condition while waiting for their appointment, referring health professionals may further investigate and manage the situation, or send an updated referral to the outpatient service. Where there are significant concerns about a patient's condition, referring health professionals may check HealthPathways for urgent/same day advice or contact the relevant clinical team.


 

Current as at: Monday 23 March 2026
Contact page owner: System Purchasing