Hip
Intra-Articular
Evidence: suggestive
Posterior Labral Tear Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Posterior Acetabular Labral Tears or instability.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient lies supine.
- Action: Examiner moves the hip from full Flexion, Adduction, and Internal Rotation → into Extension, Abduction, and External Rotation.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Groin pain, buttock pain, or a palpable apprehension/click.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Posterior Labral Tear 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 Hip region, combining the Posterior Labral Tear Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
