Mcmurrays Test Essay

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McMurrays test used to diagnose lesion in the knee Clinical diagnosis of a meniscal tear may be difficult even for the experienced knee surgeon. Although some studies have stressed the high diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) others have reported that MRI is not superior to physical examination in the diagnosis of meniscal tears. The high cost of MRI also prevents its routine use for meniscal injuries. Physical examination and clinical meniscus tests in addition to a carefully taken history have still been the most important means of diagnosing a meniscal tear. Many tests have been described and used over the years in diagnosing the tears of the meniscus. Several investigators have shown that the accuracy rates of clinical tests range between 0%2 and 95%. All of these tests are performed in non–weight-bearing positions, whereas most of the symptoms of a torn meniscus occur during weight-bearing activities. Obviously, current meniscus tests cannot mimic the activities that precipitate the symptoms of a torn meniscus. The McMurray test is named after Thomas Porter McMurray, a British orthopedic surgeon from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century who was the first to describe this test. The McMurray test, also known as the McMurray circumduction test is used to evaluate individuals for tears in the meniscus of the knee. It is a rotation test for demonstrating torn cartilage of the knee. A tear in the meniscus may cause a pedunculated tag of the meniscus which may become jammed between the joint surfaces. To perform the test, the knee is held by one hand, which is placed along the joint line, and flexed to complete flexion while the foot is held by the sole with the other hand. The examiner then places one hand on the lateral side of the knee to stabilize the joint and provide a valgus stress in order to identify a valgus deformity. The other

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