McMurrays Test: Difference between revisions

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== Technique  ==
== Technique  ==


With the patient supine the examiner holds the knee and palpates the joint line with one hand, thumb on one side and fingers on the other, whilst the other hand holds the sole of the foot and acts to support the limb and provide the required movement through range. The examiner then applies a valgus stress to the knee whilst the other hand rotates the leg externally and extends the knee.&nbsp; Pain and/or an audible click while performing this maneuver can indicate a torn medial meniscus.&nbsp;&nbsp; To examine the lateral meniscus the examiner repeats this process from full flexion but applies a varus stress to the knee and medial rotation to the tibia prior to extending the knee once again.<br>  
With the patient supine the examiner holds the knee and palpates the joint line with one hand, thumb on one side and fingers on the other, whilst the other hand holds the sole of the foot and acts to support the limb and provide the required movement through range. From a position of maximal flexion, extend the knee with <u>internal rotation (IR) of the tibia and a VARUS stress</u>, then return to maximal flexion and extend the knee with <u>external rotation (ER) of the tibia and a VALGUS stress</u>.The IR of the tibia followed by extension, the examiner can test the entire posterior horn to the middle segment of the meniscus. The anterior portion of the meniscus is not easily tested because the pressure to that part of the meniscus is not as great.
 
'''IR of the tibia + Varus stress = lateral meniscus'''
 
'''ER of the tibia + Valgus stress = medial meniscus'''
 
'''<u>Positive findings:</u>'''  Pain, snapping, audible clicking or locking can indicate a compromised meniscus.<br>  


{{#ev:youtube|lwDFPAyGGgI}}<ref>Physiotutors. McMurray Test⎟Meniscus Damage. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwDFPAyGGgI </ref>
{{#ev:youtube|lwDFPAyGGgI}}<ref>Physiotutors. McMurray Test⎟Meniscus Damage. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwDFPAyGGgI </ref>

Revision as of 12:40, 20 July 2018

Purpose[edit | edit source]

McMurray's test is used to determine the presence of a meniscal tear within the knee.

Technique[edit | edit source]

With the patient supine the examiner holds the knee and palpates the joint line with one hand, thumb on one side and fingers on the other, whilst the other hand holds the sole of the foot and acts to support the limb and provide the required movement through range. From a position of maximal flexion, extend the knee with internal rotation (IR) of the tibia and a VARUS stress, then return to maximal flexion and extend the knee with external rotation (ER) of the tibia and a VALGUS stress.The IR of the tibia followed by extension, the examiner can test the entire posterior horn to the middle segment of the meniscus. The anterior portion of the meniscus is not easily tested because the pressure to that part of the meniscus is not as great.

IR of the tibia + Varus stress = lateral meniscus

ER of the tibia + Valgus stress = medial meniscus

Positive findings:  Pain, snapping, audible clicking or locking can indicate a compromised meniscus.

[1]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Studies of specificity and sensitivity have demonstrated varied values as a result of poor methodological quality[2]  A recent meta-analysis reports sensitivity and specificity to be 70% and 71%.[3]The test has therefore often been reported to be of limited value in current clinical practice. However, if positive findings are grouped with positive findings from other tests, such as joint line tenderness and Apley's test, the test may be more valid.  There are several different reported methods of performing McMurrays Test, Reiders method may be the most accurate[4]

References[edit | edit source]