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Orthopedic Tip of the Week

Orthopedic Tip of the Month

BRAND NEW TEST

"The Thessaly Test" for early detection of meniscal tears.

The Thessaly test is a dynamic reproduction of load transmission in the knee joint and is performed at 5 and 20 degrees of flexion.  It was named in the honor of the county, where the hospital serves as an academic medical referral center.

It is performed by the examiner supporting the patient by holding his/her outstretched hands while the patient stands flatfooted on the floor. The patient then rotates his or her knee and body, internally and externally, 3 times, keeping the knee in slight flexion (5 degrees). Then the same procedure is carried out with the knee flexed at 20 degrees. Patients with suspected meniscal tears experience medial or lateral joint-line discomfort and may have a sense of locking or catching.  The theory is that the meniscal tear is subjected to excessive loading conditions with this test and almost certainly will have the same symptomss that the patient reported.  The test is ALWAYS performed on the normal knee first.

Results: The Thessaly test at 20 degrees of knee flexion has a high diagnostic accuracy rate of 94% in the detection of tears of the medial meniscus and 96% in the detection of tears of the lateral meniscus, and had a low rate of false-positive and false-negative readings.  Other traditional clinical exam tests, with the exception of joint tenderess, presented a diagnostic accuracy of 89% in detection of lateral meniscus tears, showed inferior rates.

Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 2005. pgs. 955 - 962

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CONA Ortho Tip of the Month is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through CONA Ortho Tip of the Month should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care.  If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider. The authors, editors, producers, sponsors and contributors shall have no liability, obligation or responsibility to any person or entity for any loss, damage, or adverse consequences alleged to have happened directly or indirectly as a consequence of this material.