Authors
Abstract
Background: The purpose of clinical examination is to make a correct diagnosis. There are several clinical tests with different diagnostic values for meniscus injuries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of modified "axial loading McMurray test". Methods: In a cross sectional diagnostic study, 146 patients (120 male, 26 female) with a mean age of 35 years who had clinical symptoms of knee meniscus injury and were candidates for arthroscopic evaluation entered the study in a teaching hospital in Guilan-Iran. "Axial loading Mc Murray – ALMM" test was performed in all the cases just before doing arthroscopic evaluation of the knees. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the ALMM in relation to the later arthroscopic findings were analyzed. Results: From the 146 patients, 92 had evidence of meniscus tear on ALMM testing. The arthroscopy was, however, positive in 82 patients. In the remaining 54 cases with negative ALMM test, 38 patients had meniscus tear at arthroscopy. 56% of tears were seen in medial meniscus, 75% of which were in posterior horn. The ALMM test had 67.1% accuracy, 68.3% sensitivity, 61.5% specificity, 89.1% predictive positive value and 29.6% negative predictive value. Conclusion: Positive "Axial loading Mc Murray" for knee meniscus injury is expected to show meniscal tear in 89% of cases
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