Exam

Elbow Extension Test

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Elbow Extension Test

  • Indications
  1. Elbow Trauma
  • Technique
  1. Patient asked to fully extend elbow
  • Interpretation
  1. Inability to extend elbow suggests need for Elbow XRay
  2. Ability to fully extend elbow is reassuring
    1. XRay not needed unless other indications
  • Efficacy
  1. Test Sensitivity: 97% (Negative Predictive Value: 98%)
  2. Test Specificity: 69% (Positive Predictive Value: 63%)
  • References
  1. Docherty (2002) South Med J 95:539-41 [PubMed]