Which test is commonly positive for meniscal pathology?

Which test is commonly positive for meniscal pathology?

• A. Joint line tenderness
• B. Minor swelling
• C. Positive Thessaly
• D. Positive McMurray's

Answer: (D)

Provoke what’s torn. Tests that load and shear the meniscus during knee motion reveal tears by reproducing the mechanical symptoms they cause. McMurray’s test does this by flexing the knee, rotating the tibia to stress the medial or lateral meniscus, and then extending the knee. If a tear is present, the torn edge catches or moves abnormally, often producing a click or pain along the joint line. That direct, reproducible sign makes it a commonly positive indicator of meniscal pathology in bedside exams. Joint line tenderness can occur with many knee problems and isn’t specific to meniscal injury. Minor swelling isn’t a reliable feature of isolated meniscal tears, and while the Thessaly test is useful, it can be more dependent on patient balance and technique. The classic, widely taught maneuver that most reliably yields a positive sign for meniscal pathology is McMurray’s test.

Provoke what’s torn. Tests that load and shear the meniscus during knee motion reveal tears by reproducing the mechanical symptoms they cause. McMurray’s test does this by flexing the knee, rotating the tibia to stress the medial or lateral meniscus, and then extending the knee. If a tear is present, the torn edge catches or moves abnormally, often producing a click or pain along the joint line. That direct, reproducible sign makes it a commonly positive indicator of meniscal pathology in bedside exams.

Joint line tenderness can occur with many knee problems and isn’t specific to meniscal injury. Minor swelling isn’t a reliable feature of isolated meniscal tears, and while the Thessaly test is useful, it can be more dependent on patient balance and technique. The classic, widely taught maneuver that most reliably yields a positive sign for meniscal pathology is McMurray’s test.