McMurray test

McMurray test is a clinical examination procedure used in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in the knee joint. It was named after the British orthopedic surgeon, Thomas Porter McMurray.

Procedure

The patient is asked to lie down with the knee bent. The examiner holds the knee and the foot, providing a valgus (outward) stress at the knee while the foot is externally rotated. The knee is then extended. If a "click" is felt, the test is considered positive.

Interpretation

A positive McMurray test indicates a possible tear in the meniscus of the knee. However, it is not definitive proof and further medical imaging such as MRI may be required for confirmation.

Limitations

The McMurray test has been found to have a sensitivity of around 52% and a specificity of around 97%. This means that while a positive test is a strong indicator of a meniscal tear, a negative test does not definitively rule out a tear.

See also

• Knee examination
• Meniscus (anatomy)
• Thomas Porter McMurray