The Thumb Test: A Simple Physical Examination Maneuver for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic Posterior Shoulder Instability

Pascal Boileau; Peter M. van Steyn; Michael Czarnecki; Sylvain Teissier; Gregory Gasbarro; Joseph W. Galvin

doi:10.1016/j.eats.2022.05.007

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The Thumb Test: A Simple Physical Examination Maneuver for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic Posterior Shoulder Instability

Journal article

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The Thumb Test: A Simple Physical Examination Maneuver for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic Posterior Shoulder Instability

Pascal Boileau, Peter M. van Steyn, Michael Czarnecki, Sylvain Teissier, Gregory Gasbarro and Joseph W. Galvin

Arthroscopy techniques (Amsterdam), Vol.11(9), pp.E1613-E1616

09/01/2022

DOI: 10.1016/j.eats.2022.05.007

PMCID: PMC9520018

PMID: 36185110

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Abstract

Posterior shoulder instability is becoming increasingly recognized in young active patient populations. Diag-nosing posterior instability can be challenging because patients commonly present with a complaint of pain without a history of a dislocation or subluxation event. Additionally, a posterior labral tear is not always clearly visualized on advanced imaging studies. As such, physical examination is critical to the diagnosis. We report a simple physical exam-ination maneuver for the diagnosis of symptomatic posterior shoulder instability. The thumb test attempts to replicate a posterior bone block procedure, helping to re-establish stability and relieve pain. The examiner places his or her thumb over the posterior glenohumeral joint line while the patient actively forward elevates the affected arm overhead. Improvement in pain and stability with this maneuver is diagnostic for symptomatic posterior shoulder instability. This test augments current physical examination maneuvers to assist with correctly diagnosing posterior shoulder instability.

Orthopedics

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Thumb Test: A Simple Physical Examination Maneuver for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic Posterior Shoulder Instability
Creators: Pascal Boileau
Peter M. van Steyn - Madigan Army Medical Center
Michael Czarnecki - Madigan Army Medical Center
Sylvain Teissier
Gregory Gasbarro - Mercy Medical Center
Joseph W. Galvin - Madigan Army Medical Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Arthroscopy techniques (Amsterdam), Vol.11(9), pp.E1613-E1616
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/j.eats.2022.05.007
PMID: 36185110
PMCID: PMC9520018
ISSN: 2212-6287
eISSN: 2212-6287
Number of pages: 4
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2022
Academic Unit: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Record Identifier: 9984618524702771

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