Mennell's Sign
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Purpose[edit | edit source]
The Mennell's sign is a pain-provocation test that is used to examine degenerative progress in the sacroiliac joint region. It was developed by the orthopaedic physician James Mennell to test for spondyloarthropathy diseases such as Morbus Bechterew.
Technique[edit | edit source]
The Mennell's sign can be realised in two different ways:
- Classic Extension Test The Patient lies in proline position, the examiner passively lifts the straight leg into hip extension while manually putting pressure on the sacroiliac (SI) joint. If the patient experiences familiar pain in the hip region, the Mennell's sign is positive. No report of pain in the hip region does not rule out damage to the same. To find more precise results this test was then further developed into the Three-Phases Test.
- The Three-Phases Test The Three-Phases Test differentiates between the involvement of the lumbar spine, the SI joint and the hip. The patient is again in proline position and the examiner lifts the ipsilateral leg with an inward rotation by reaching underneath the thigh from medial.
- Hip joint: Pressure is applied to the Tuber ischiadicum while extending the leg as described above.
- Sacroiliac joint: Pressure is applied directly to the Sacroiliac joint while extending the leg as described above.
- Lumbar spine: Fixation of the vertebra Th12 in ventral-caudal position while extending the leg as described above.
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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