PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR DIAGNOSING MENISCAL INJURIES: CORRELATION WITH SURGICAL FINDINGS.

OBJECTIVE: A set of five maneuvers for meniscal injuries (McMurray, Apley, Childress and Steinmann 1 and 2) was evaluated and their sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and likelihood were calculated. The same methods were applied to each test individually. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients of both sexes who were going to undergo videoarthroscopy on the knee were examined blindly by one of five residents at this hospital, without knowledge of the clinical data and why the patient was going to undergo an operation. This examination was conducted immediately before the videoarthroscopy and its results were recorded in an electronic spreadsheet. The set of maneuvers was considered positive when one was positive. In the individual analysis, it was enough for the test to be positive. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the set of five meniscal tests presented sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 42%, accuracy of 75%, positive likelihood of 1.53 and negative likelihood of 0.26. Individually, the tests presented accuracy of between 48% and 53%. CONCLUSION: The set of maneuvers for meniscal injuries presented a good accuracy and significant value, especially for ruling out injury. Individually, the tests had less diagnostic value, although the Apley test had better specificity.

O exame físico no diagnóstico de lesões meniscais: uma correlação com os achados cirúrgicos / Physical examinations for diagnosing meniscal injuries: correlation with surgical findings

OBJETIVO: Foi avaliado o conjunto de cinco manobras para as lesões meniscais (McMurray, Apley, Childress, Steinmann 1 e 2) e calculados a sensibilidade, especificidade, acurácia e likelyhoods do conjunto dessas manobras. Os mesmos cálculos foram aplicados a cada teste individualmente. MÉTODOS: Cento e cinquenta e dois pacientes de ambos os sexos que iriam realizar videoartroscopia do joelho foram examinados por um dos cinco residentes desse hospital de forma cega sem que esse soubesse seus dados clínicos e porque seriam operados. Esse exame era realizado imediatamente antes da videoartroscopia e seus resultados anotados em planilha eletrônica. O conjunto de manobras foi considerado positivo quando uma era positiva. Já na análise individual, bastava o teste ser positivo. RESULTADOS: A análise mostrou que o conjunto dos cinco testes meniscais apresenta 89 por cento de sensibilidade, 42 por cento de especificidade, 75 por cento de acurácia, likelyhood + de 1,53 e um likelyhood - de 0,26. Individualmente os testes apresentaram acurácia entre 48 e 53 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: O conjunto de manobras para as lesões meniscais tem boa acurácia e valor significativo, principalmente para excluir lesões. Os testes isolados têm menor valor diagnóstico, sendo o teste de Apley o de melhor especificidade.

OBJECTIVE: A set of five maneuvers for meniscal injuries (McMurray, Apley, Childress and Steinmann 1 and 2) was evaluated and their sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and likelihood were calculated. The same methods were applied to each test individually. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients of both sexes who were going to undergo videoarthroscopy on the knee were examined blindly by one of five residents at this hospital, without knowledge of the clinical data and why the patient was going to undergo an operation. This examination was conducted immediately before the videoarthroscopy and its results were recorded in an electronic spreadsheet. The set of maneuvers was considered positive when one was positive. In the individual analysis, it was enough for the test to be positive. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the set of five meniscal tests presented sensitivity of 89 percent, specificity of 42 percent, accuracy of 75 percent, positive likelihood of 1.53 and negative likelihood of 0.26. Individually, the tests presented accuracy of between 48 percent and 53 percent. CONCLUSION: The set of maneuvers for meniscal injuries presented a good accuracy and significant value, especially for ruling out injury. Individually, the tests had less diagnostic value, although the Apley test had better specificity.

A comparação do valor diagnóstico do exame físico para lesão meniscal em pacientes com e sem lesão doligamento cruzado anterior / A comparison of the diagnostic value of physical examination for meniscal injury in patients with and without injury of the anterior cruciate ligament

Introdução: Lesões meniscais (LM) ocorrem habitualmente em pacientes que sofrem traumas rotacionais do joelho sob compressão. Elas podem ocorrer de forma isolada ou estar associadas a rupturas ligamentares e a patologias condrais. O objetivo deste estudo é o de comparar o valor do exame físico para diagnóstico das LMs em pacientes com e sem lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA). Métodos: 162 pacientes que seriam submetidos a videoartroscopia, por patologias intra-articulares do joelho, foram examinados previamente ao procedimento por 3 de 5 residentes treinados para realizar o conjunto de manobras para diagnóstico de LM (McMurray, Appley, Childress, Steinmann 1 e 2). Foi considerado positivo o exame físico meniscal quando um dos testes era positivo. Os pacientes foram divididos em 2 grupos com lesão do LCA (grupo A) e sem lesão do LCA (grupo B). Os achados cirúrgicos foram anotados e comparados aos achados do exame clínico. Toda lesão meniscal encontrada na artroscopia foi considerada como achado positivo. Em relação ao LCA, a ruptura desta estrutura foi considerada como achado positivo. Resultados: No grupo A, o conjunto de manobras para LM apontou 70% de sensibilidade, 48% de especificidade e 60% de acurácia, enquanto que no grupo B, este valor foi de 97%, 42% e 88%, respectivamente. Conclusão: No presente estudo, o exame físico para LM se mostrou mais eficiente na ausência de lesão do LCA. A presença de lesão do LCA diminuiu a acurácia do exame físico para as LMs

Introduction: Meniscal Injuries (MIs) commonly occur in patients suffering rotational trauma of the knee under compression. They can occur in isolation or be associated with ligament ruptures and chondral pathologies. The aim of this study is to compare the value of physical examination for diagnosis of MI in patients with and without injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Methods: 162 patients who were undergoing arthroscopy because of intraarticular knee pathologies were examined prior to the procedure by 3 of 5 residents trained to perform the set of maneuvers for diagnosis of MI (McMurray, Appley, Childress, Steinmann 1 and 2). The physical examination was considered positive when any of the tests was positive. The patients were divided into two groups with ACL injury (group A) and without ACL injury (group B). Surgical findings were recorded and compared with clinical examination findings. Every meniscal lesion found at arthroscopy was considered as a positive finding. Regarding LCA, the rupture of this structure was considered as a positive finding. Results: In group A, the set of maneuvers for MI showed 70% sensitivity, 48% specificity and 60% accuracy, while in group B, these figures were 97%, 42% and 88%, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, the physical examination for MI was more efficient in the absence of ACL injury. The presence of ACL injury decreased the accuracy of physical examination for MIs

Hálux Valgo / Hallux Valgus

Os autores descrevem os fundamentos referentes à definição, diagnóstico e tratamento do Hálux Valgo