Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the thumb carpometacarpal joint is made predominantly by correlating examination findings with patients' symptoms and radiographs. The importance of clinical examination is enhanced due to the poor correlation between radiological severity of osteoarthritis of this joint and symptoms. Despite the importance of clinical examination findings, no previous studies have analyzed the traction-shift test nor compared clinical tests for this diagnosis. In this prospective case-control study the relative performance of the commonly used grind and traction-shift (subluxation-relocation) tests were compared in 30 patients and 30 unaffected controls. The traction-shift test had greater sensitivity (66.7%) and specificity (100%) than the grind test (30% and 96.7%, respectively), whilst also demonstrating superior positive (100%) and negative (75%) predictive value than the grind test (90% and 58%, respectively). Therefore, we believe this to be the superior clinical test for osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/1753193413508714

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Hand Surg Eur Vol

Publication Date

03/2014

Volume

39

Pages

282 - 285

Keywords

Osteoarthritis, carpometacarpal joint, grind test, traction-shift, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carpometacarpal Joints, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Physical Examination, Prospective Studies, Sensitivity and Specificity, Thumb