Knee
Other Tests
Evidence: confirmed
Wilson’s Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) of the medial femoral condyle.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient sits with legs dangling.
- Action: Internally rotate tibia and extend knee. Stop when pain occurs (~30°).
- Confirmatory: Externally rotate tibia.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain during internal rotation extension that is relieved by external rotation.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Low sensitivity; negative test does not rule out OCD.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Wilson’s 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 Wilson’s Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
