Medial Plica Test (Mital & Hayden) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Mediopatellar Plica Syndrome.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine, knee flexed to 30°.
- Action: Push the patella medially with the thumb.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain or a click is elicited medial to the patella.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Medial Plica Test (Mital & Hayden) 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 Medial Plica Test (Mital & Hayden) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
