We developed a new test, the "hug-up test," wherein elevation is resisted as the palm is held on the opposite shoulder with the elbow held in maximal anterior translation. The purpose of this study was to describe the hug-up test and compare it with other conventional tests used for diagnosing supraspinatus tears.
The supraspinatus tendon is the most commonly affected tendon in rotator cuff tears. Early detection of a supraspinatus tear using an accurate physical examination is, therefore, important. However, the currently used physical tests for detecting supraspinatus tears are poor diagnostic indicators and involve a wide range of sensitivity and specificity values. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a new physical test for the diagnosis of supraspinatus tears and evaluate its accuracy in comparison with conventional tests. Between November 2012 and January 2014, 200 consecutive patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy were prospectively evaluated preoperatively. The hug-up test, empty can (EC) test, full can (FC) test, Neer impingement sign, and Hawkins-Kennedy impingement sign were used and compared statistically for their accuracy in terms of supraspinatus tears, with arthroscopic findings as the gold standard. Muscle strength was precisely quantified using an electronic digital tensiometer.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
It is a new physical test used to detect supraspinatus tear
It is a traditional physical test used to detect supraspinatus tear
It is a traditional physical test used to detect supraspinatus tear
Peking University Third Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
patients' self-reported pain
Pain experienced during the Neer impingement and Hawkins-Kennedy impingement tests and weakness during the EC test and the FC test were considered positive results.
Time frame: immediately after the test
diagnostic arthroscopy
The arthroscopic operation involved complete inspection of the supraspinatus. Supraspinatus tears were categorized as fullthickness tears (FTTs), which were classified as small (≤1 cm), moderate (≤3 cm), large (≤5 cm), and massive (\>5 cm), on the basis of the largest dimension, and partial-thickness tears (PTTs), which were classified as bursal-sided, articular-sided,and intra-tendinous. Other combined diseases including acromioclavicular joint derangement, infraspinatus lesions, subscapularis lesions, superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions, biceps disorders, and Bankart lesions were recorded as well to assess the specificity of the tests.the supraspinatus. Supraspinatus tears were categorized as fullthickness tears (FTTs), which were classified as small (≤1 cm), moderate (≤3 cm), large (≤5 cm), and massive (\>5 cm), on the basis of the largest dimension, and partial-thickness tears (PTTs), which were classified as bursal-sided, articular-sided,
Time frame: during the arthrosocpic procedure
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It is a traditional physical test used to detect supraspinatus tear
It is a traditional physical test used to detect supraspinatus tear
The arthroscopic operation involved complete inspection of the supraspinatus. Supraspinatus tears were categorized as fullthickness tears (FTTs), which were classified as small (≤1 cm), moderate (≤3 cm), large (≤5 cm), and massive (\>5 cm), on the basis of the largest dimension, and partial-thickness tears (PTTs), which were classified as bursal-sided, articular-sided,and intra-tendinous. Other combined diseases including acromioclavicular joint derangement, infraspinatus lesions, subscapularis lesions, superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions, biceps disorders, and Bankart lesions were recorded as well to assess the specificity of the tests.