title: Use of the patellar-pubic percussion test in the diagnosis and management of a patient with a non-displaced hip fracture.
abstract: This case report describes the diagnosis and subsequent medical and physical therapy management of a 68-year-old patient with an undiagnosed non-displaced hip fracture. Initial plain film radiographs and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the involved hip were both interpreted as negative. One of the findings on the physical examination included a positive patellar-pubic percussion test (PPPT). This finding in a female patient of this age raised the suspicion of an occult hip fracture and she was referred back to her primary care physician. Repeat radiographs revealed a non-displaced hip fracture and the patient was treated surgically. The PPPT is an easy-to-implement clinical examination tool that may be extremely useful in physical therapy practice to guide the decision-making process for patients with suspected hip fractures. The utilization of the PPPT by the treating physical therapist for the patient in this case report contributed to a timely diagnosis, potentially preventing the disabling sequelae associated with a displaced femoral fracture.
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Borgerding
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kikillus
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Boissonnault