Elbow Orthopaedic Test: Elbow Extension Sign
Jun 15, 2023The Elbow extension sign is a physical examination test used to assess for the presence of either a bony fracture or an elbow joint effusion.
Procedure:
- Position the patient in a seated or supine position with their affected arm relaxed at their side.
- Ask the patient to flex their elbow to 90 degrees.
- Place your hand on the patient's forearm just above the wrist joint.
- Instruct the patient to extend their elbow while you apply downward pressure to their forearm.
- Observe the patient's response during elbow extension. Note any pain, discomfort, or resistance that the patient experiences during the test.
- Repeat the test with the patient's elbow in a fully extended position to compare their response to the initial 90-degree flexion position.
- Record your observations and document any findings.
In a normal elbow, the Elbow extension sign test should not produce any pain, discomfort, or resistance during elbow extension, regardless of whether the elbow is in a flexed or extended position. This suggests that there is no bony fracture or elbow joint effusion present.
If the patient experiences pain or discomfort during the test, it may indicate a bony fracture, while if the patient experiences resistance or difficulty in fully extending their elbow, it may suggest the presence of an elbow joint effusion.
References:
- Magee, D. J. (2014). Orthopedic Physical Assessment-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Seidel, H. M., Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., & Flynn, J. A. (2018). Mosby's Guide to Physical Examination. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Scherer, K., Schmucker, U., Hoffmann, R., & Brossmann, J. (2004). MR imaging of the elbow: evaluation of fat-suppressed T2-weighted sequences with and without contrast enhancement for the detection of joint effusion. European Radiology, 14(2), 220-226.
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