Rent Test

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

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Purpose[edit | edit source]

To test for the presence of rotator cuff tears 

Technique[1][2][3][edit | edit source]

Patient is seated with examiner standing behind patient.  Have patient relax - palpate anterior margin of the acromion through the deltoid - while doing this grasp the patients arm with other hand at the elbow/forearm (patients elbow should be flexed to ~ 90 degrees) and bring into extension.  Passively internally and externally rotate patients arm to palpate rotator cuff tendons.  Presence of palpable or prominent eminence (Greater tuberosity) and/or rent (defect or 'sulcus')4 is indicative of full thickness tear. 1,2,3

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Wolf and Agrawal1 report Sensitivity and Specificity of 95.7% (.963) and 96.8% (.973) respectively with a positive predictive value of 95.7%, negative predictive value of 96.8% and a diagnostic accuracy of 96.3%.  Cleland3 calculates a +LR of 32.0 and -LR of .04.  Lyons and Tomlinson2 reported Sn of 91% (.91) and Sp of 75% (.75).

Resources (from Pubmed) [edit | edit source]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11641706  1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1587891  2

References[edit | edit source]

1Wolf EM & Agrawal V.  Transdeltoid palpaiton (the rent test) in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears.  J Shoulder Elbow Surg.  Sept/Oct 2001;10(5):470-473

2Lyons AR & Tomlinson JE.  Clincial Diagnosis of Tears of the Rotator Cuff.  J Bone Joint Surg.  May 1991;(74):404-405

3Cleland J.  Orthopaedic Clinical Examination:  An Evidence Based Approach for Physical Therapists.  Philadelphia;  Saunders, Elsevier:  2007 

4Dutton M.  Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention.  New York:  The McGraw-Hill Comapinies  (2nd Ed.) 2008

  1. Wolf EM & Agrawal V. Transdeltoid palpation (the rent test) in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. Sept/Oct 2001;10(5):470-473
  2. Lyons AR & Tomlinson JE. Clinical Diagnosis of Tears of the Rotator Cuff. J Bone Joint Surg. May 1992;74:404-405
  3. Cleland J. Orthopaedic Clinical Examination: An Evidence Based Approach for Physical Therapists. Philadelphia; Saunders, Elsevier. 2007