Alison Grimaldi1,2, Rebecca Mellor2, Phillipa Nicolson3, Paul Hodges4, Kim Bennell3, Bill Vicenzino2,4. 1. Physiotec, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 2. The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Physiotherapy, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 3. Department of Physiotherapy, Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. 4. NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Gluteal tendinopathy (GT) is a source of lateral hip pain, yet common clinical diagnostic tests have limited validity. Patients with GT are often misdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate management, including surgery. This study determined the diagnostic utility of clinical tests for GT, using MRI as the reference standard. METHODS: 65 participants with lateral hip pain were examined to evaluate the ability of clinical tests to detect MRI-determined GT (an increase in intratendinous signal intensity on T2-weighted images). Palpation of the greater trochanter and several clinical pain provocation tests applying compressive and tensile loads on the gluteal tendons were investigated. MRI of the painful hip was examined by a radiologist, blind to clinical findings. RESULTS: Pain reported within 30 s of standing on the affected limb conclusively moves a (nominal) 50% pretest probability of GT presence on MRI to a post-test probability of 98% (specificity 100%, positive likelihood ratio ∼12), whereas no pain on palpation (80% sensitivity) would rule out its presence. 20 participants (31%) had GT on MRI but clinically negative (ie, not positive on palpation and another test). CONCLUSIONS: Keeping in mind that the sample size was small (ie, possibly underpowered for indices of diagnostic utility with low precision), the results of this study indicate that a patient who reports lateral hip pain within 30 s of single-leg-standing is very likely to have GT. Patients with lateral hip pain who are not palpably tender over the greater trochanter are unlikely to have MRI-detected GT. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
PURPOSE:Gluteal tendinopathy (GT) is a source of lateral hip pain, yet common clinical diagnostic tests have limited validity. Patients with GT are often misdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate management, including surgery. This study determined the diagnostic utility of clinical tests for GT, using MRI as the reference standard. METHODS: 65 participants with lateral hip pain were examined to evaluate the ability of clinical tests to detect MRI-determined GT (an increase in intratendinous signal intensity on T2-weighted images). Palpation of the greater trochanter and several clinical pain provocation tests applying compressive and tensile loads on the gluteal tendons were investigated. MRI of the painful hip was examined by a radiologist, blind to clinical findings. RESULTS:Pain reported within 30 s of standing on the affected limb conclusively moves a (nominal) 50% pretest probability of GT presence on MRI to a post-test probability of 98% (specificity 100%, positive likelihood ratio ∼12), whereas no pain on palpation (80% sensitivity) would rule out its presence. 20 participants (31%) had GT on MRI but clinically negative (ie, not positive on palpation and another test). CONCLUSIONS: Keeping in mind that the sample size was small (ie, possibly underpowered for indices of diagnostic utility with low precision), the results of this study indicate that a patient who reports lateral hip pain within 30 s of single-leg-standing is very likely to have GT. Patients with lateral hip pain who are not palpably tender over the greater trochanter are unlikely to have MRI-detected GT. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
Authors: Adam Ivan Semciw; Tania Pizzari; Stephanie Woodley; Anita Zacharias; Michael Kingsley; Rod A Green Journal: Trials Date: 2018-09-20 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Kwadwo Adu Owusu-Akyaw; Carolyn A Hutyra; Richard J Evanson; Chad E Cook; Mike Reiman; Richard C Mather Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2019-10-10