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Objective: To compile and critique research on the diagnostic accuracy of individual orthopaedic physical examination tests in a manner that would allow clinicians to judge whether these tests are valuable to their practice. Methods: A computer-assisted literature search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases (1966( to October 2006 using keywords related to diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests of the shoulder. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool was used to critique the quality of each paper. Meta-analysis through meta-regression of the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was performed on the Neer test for impingement, the Hawkins2Kennedy test for impingement, and the Speed test for superior labral pathology. Results: Forty-five studies were critiqued with only half demonstrating acceptable high quality and only two having adequate sample size. For impingement, the metaanalysis revealed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity for the Neer test was 79% and 53%, respectively, and for the Hawkins2Kennedy test was 79% and 59%, respectively. For superior labral (SLAP) tears, the summary sensitivity and specificity of the Speed test was 32% and 61%, respectively. Regarding orthopaedic special tests (OSTs) where meta-analysis was not possible either due to lack of sufficient studies or heterogeneity between studies, the list that demonstrates both high sensitivity and high specificity is short: hornblowers's sign and the external rotation lag sign for tears of the rotator cuff, biceps load II for superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions, and apprehension, relocation and anterior release for anterior instability. Even these tests have been under-studied or are from lower quality studies or both. No tests for impingement or acromioclavicular (AC) joint pathology demonstrated significant diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: Based on pooled data, the diagnostic accuracy of the Neer test for impingement, the Hawkins2Kennedy test for impingement and the Speed test for labral pathology is limited. There is a great need for large, prospective, well-designed studies that examine the diagnostic accuracy of the numerous physical examination tests of the shoulder. Currently, almost without exception, there is a lack of clarity with regard to whether common OSTs used in clinical examination are useful in differentially diagnosing pathologies of the shoulder.History and physical examination of patients with shoulder pain has traditionally been a cornerstone of the diagnostic process. Diagnosis based on physical findings is important to determine a treatment path and because the ability to correctly diagnose the source of shoulder pain can save the patient from further diagnostic tests that are more costly, painful or inconvenient. Physical examination tests or orthopaedic special tests (OSTs) have historically been an integral part of this process. However, despite the fact that studies on the diagnostic accuracy of OSTs in the shoulder have been published at an acce...

Objective To update our previously published systematic review and meta-analysis by subjecting the literature on shoulder physical examination (ShPE) to careful analysis in order to determine each tests clinical utility. Methods This review is an update of previous work, therefore the terms in the Medline and CINAHL search strategies remained the same with the exception that the search was confi ned to the dates November, 2006 through to February, 2012. The previous study dates were 1966 -October, 2006. Further, the original search was expanded, without date restrictions, to include two new databases: EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies, version 2 (QUADAS 2) tool was used to critique the quality of each new paper. Where appropriate, data from the prior review and this review were combined to perform meta-analysis using the updated hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic and bivariate models. Results Since the publication of the 2008 review, 32 additional studies were identifi ed and critiqued. For subacromial impingement, the meta-analysis revealed that the pooled sensitivity and specifi city for the Neer test was 72% and 60%, respectively, for the HawkinsKennedy test was 79% and 59%, respectively, and for the painful arc was 53% and 76%, respectively. Also from the meta-analysis, regarding superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) tears, the test with the best sensitivity (52%) was the relocation test; the test with the best specifi city (95%) was Yergason's test; and the test with the best positive likelihood ratio (2.81) was the compression-rotation test. Regarding new (to this series of reviews) ShPE tests, where meta-analysis was not possible because of lack of suffi cient studies or heterogeneity between studies, there are some individual tests that warrant further investigation. A highly specifi c test (specifi city >80%, LR+ ≥ 5.0) from a low bias study is the passive distraction test for a SLAP lesion. This test may rule in a SLAP lesion when positive. A sensitive test (sensitivity >80%, LR− ≤ 0.20) of note is the shoulder shrug sign, for stiffnessrelated disorders (osteoarthritis and adhesive capsulitis) as well as rotator cuff tendinopathy. There are six additional tests with higher sensitivities, specifi cities, or both but caution is urged since all of these tests have been studied only once and more than one ShPE test (ie, active compression, biceps load II) has been introduced with great diagnostic statistics only to have further research fail to replicate the results of the original authors. The belly-off and modifi ed belly press tests for subscapularis tendinopathy, bony apprehension test for bony instability, olecranon-manubrium percussion test for bony abnormality, passive compression for a SLAP lesion, and the lateral Jobe test for rotator cuff tear give reason for optimism since they demonstrated both high sensitivities and specifi cities reported in low bias studies. Finally, one additional test was studied in tw...

MRI was identified as the most sensitive and specific imaging test for diagnosing stress fractures of the lower extremity. When MRI is available, NS is not recommended because of its low specificity, high dosage of ionizing radiation, and other limitations. Conventional radiographs are likely to result in false negatives upon initial presentation, particularly in the early stages of stress fracture, and in some cases may not reveal an existing stress fracture at any time. A diagnostic imaging algorithm was developed with specific recommendations for cost-efficient imaging of low-risk and high-risk suspected stress fractures.

Objective To review the measurement properties of physical performance tests (PPTs) of the knee as each pertain to athletes, and to determine the relationship between PPTs and injury in athletes age 12 years to adult. Methods A search strategy was constructed by combining the terms 'lower extremity' and synonyms for 'performance test', and names of performance tests with variants of the term 'athlete'. In this, part 1, we report on findings in the knee. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed and the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was used to critique the methodological quality of each paper. A second measure was used to analyse the quality of the measurement properties of each test.

BackgroundHip Physical Examination (HPE) tests have long been used to diagnose a myriad of intra-and extra-articular pathologies of the hip joint. Useful clinical utility is necessary to support diagnostic imaging and subsequent surgical decision making.ObjectiveSummarise and evaluate the current research and utility on the diagnostic accuracy of HPE tests for the hip joint germane to sports related injuries and pathology.MethodsA computer-assisted literature search of MEDLINE, CINHAL and EMBASE databases (January 1966 to January 2012) using keywords related to diagnostic accuracy of the hip joint. This systematic review with meta-analysis utilised thePreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) guidelines for the search and reporting phases of the study. Der-Simonian and Laird random effects models were used to summarise sensitivities (SN), specificities (SP), likelihood ratios and diagnostic OR.ResultsThe employed search strategy revealed 25 potential articles, with 10 demonstrating high quality. Fourteen articles qualified for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated that most tests possess weak diagnostic properties with the exception of the patellar-pubic percussion test, which had excellent pooled SN 95 (95% CI 92 to 97%) and good specificity 86 (95% CI 78 to 92%).ConclusionSeveral studies have investigated pathology in the hip. Few of the current studies are of substantial quality to dictate clinical decision-making. Currently, only the patellar-pubic percussion test is supported by the data as a stand-alone HPE test. Further studies involving high quality designs are needed to fully assess the value of HPE tests for patients with intra- and extra-articular hip dysfunction.

Purpose The purpose was to 1) determine whether standard clinical muscle fatty infiltration and atrophy assessment techniques using a single image slice for patients with a rotator cuff tear (RCT) are correlated with three-dimensional measures in older individuals (60+ years), and 2) determine whether age-associated changes to muscle morphology and strength are compounded by a RCT. Methods Twenty older subjects were studied, 10 with a RCT of the supraspinatus (5M/5F) and 10 matched controls. Clinical imaging assessments (Goutallier, Fuchs scores; cross-sectional area ratio) were made for RCT subjects. Three-dimensional measurements of rotator cuff muscle and fat tissues were made for all subjects using MRI. Isometric joint moment was measured at the shoulder. Results There were no significant associations between single-image assessments and three-dimensional measurements of fatty infiltration for supraspinatus and infraspinatus. Compared to controls, RCT subjects had significantly increased fatty infiltration percentages for each rotator cuff muscle (all p≤0.023), reduced whole muscle volume for supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis (all p≤0.038), and reduced fat-free muscle volume for supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis (all p≤0.027). Only teres minor (p=0.017) fatty infiltration volume was significantly greater for RCT subjects. Adduction, flexion, and external rotation strength (all p≤0.021) were significantly reduced for RCT subjects, and muscle volume was a significant predictor of strength for all comparisons. Conclusions Clinical scores using a single image slice do not represent three-dimensional muscle measurements. Efficient methods are needed to more effectively capture three-dimensional information for clinical applications. RCT subjects had increased fatty infiltration percentages likely driven by muscle atrophy rather than increased fat volume. Muscle volume’s significant association with strength production suggests that treatments to preserve muscle volume should be pursued for older RCT patients. Level of Evidence Level II, diagnostic study, with development of diagnostic criteria on the basis of consecutive patients with universally applied reference “gold” standard.

Currently, there is relatively limited research-backed information on PPTs of the lower extremity in athletes. We would suggest convening an international consortium comprised of experts in sports to standardise the descriptions and methodologies, and to set forth a research agenda to establish definitively the measurement properties of the most common PPTs.