Internal Rotation Lag Sign

Purpose[edit | edit source]

To test for rotator cuff tears of the Subscapularis tendon.

Technique[edit | edit source]

Patient is seated with examiner behind patient. The affected arm is brought into maximal internal rotation behind the back (dorsum of patients hand against the lumbar region). Examiner controls patient's arm at the elbow and wrist/hand which is passively brought into 20 degrees of extension taking the forearm and hand away from the back. Instruct patient to actively maintain this position as examiner releases the wrist but maintains support at the elbow. A lag is indicative of a subscapularis tendon tear.[1][2][3][4][5] Hertel, et. al.[1] describe the magnitude of the lag in 5 degree intervals with an obvious drop indicating large or massive tear and a smaller lag revealing a partial tear.

Please note that the Internal Rotation Lag Sign (IRLS) is also described by Magee[5] as the "subscaplaris or medial rotation 'spring back' or 'lag test' in addtion to the "modified lift-off test".

[6]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Hertel, et. al.[1] (also cited in Cleland[4] report Sensitivity (Sn) .97, Specificity (Sp) .96, positive Liklihood ratio (LR+) 24.3, and negative Liklihood Ratio (LR-) of .03 for the IRLS.

A more recent study by Miller, et. al.[2] report Sn 1.0, Sp .84, LR+ 6.2, LR- 0.0 with Positive Predictive Value (PPV) 28% and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 100 for the IRLS. These values are compared to diagnostic ultrasound which has been found to be comparable with arthroscopy for diagnosing RTC tears[2].  However, they summarize that clinical diagnosis of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff cannot be conclusively reached using one or more of the lag signs[2]. The other lag signs investigated in this study are the drop sign and external rotation lag sign (ERLS).

References[edit | edit source]