External Rotation Recurvatum Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Posterolateral Corner (PLC) instability or PCL injury.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine, legs extended.
- Action: Examiner lifts both legs by the great toes.
- Observation: Look at the tibial tuberosity and knee hyperextension.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: The affected knee falls into excessive hyperextension (recurvatum) and the tibia rotates externally (tibial tuberosity shifts laterally).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The External Rotation Recurvatum Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Knee region, combining the External Rotation Recurvatum Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
