title: Diagnostic accuracy of the Thessaly test, standardised clinical history and other clinical examination tests (Apley's, McMurray's and joint line tenderness) for meniscal tears in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reliable non-invasive diagnosis of meniscal tears is difficult. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used but is expensive and incidental findings are problematic. There are a number of physical examination tests for the diagnosis of meniscal tears that are simple, cheap and non-invasive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Thessaly test and to determine if the Thessaly test (alone or in combination with other physical tests) can obviate the need for further investigation by MRI or arthroscopy for patients with a suspected meniscal tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-centre prospective diagnostic accuracy study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Although the study was performed in a secondary care setting, it was designed to replicate the results that would have been achieved in a primary care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cohorts of patients were recruited: patients with knee pathology (n = 292) and a control cohort with no knee pathology (n = 75).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the Thessaly test in determining the presence of meniscal tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assessed by both a primary care clinician and a musculoskeletal clinician. Both clinicians performed the Thessaly test, McMurray's test, Apley's test, joint line tenderness test and took a standardised clinical history from the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Thessaly test had a sensitivity of 0.66, a specificity of 0.39 and a diagnostic accuracy of 54% when utilised by primary care clinicians. This compared with a sensitivity of 0.62, a specificity of 0.55 and diagnostic accuracy of 59% when used by musculoskeletal clinicians. The diagnostics accuracy of the other tests when used by primary care clinicians was 54% for McMurray's test, 53% for Apley's test, 54% for the joint line tenderness test and 55% for clinical history. For primary care clinicians, age and past history of osteoarthritis were both significant predictors of MRI diagnosis of meniscal tears. For musculoskeletal clinicians age and a positive diagnosis of meniscal tears on clinical history taking were significant predictors of MRI diagnosis. No physical tests were significant predictors of MRI diagnosis in our multivariate models. The specificity of MRI diagnosis was tested in subgroup of patients who went on to have a knee arthroscopy and was found to be low [0.53 (95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.77)], although the sensitivity was 1.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Thessaly test was no better at diagnosing meniscal tears than other established physical tests. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of all physical tests was too low to be of routine clinical value as an alternative to MRI. Caution needs to be exercised in the indiscriminate use of MRI scanning in the identification of meniscal tears in the diagnosis of the painful knee, due to the low specificity seen in the presence of concomitant knee pathology. Further research is required to determine the true diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of MRI for the detection of meniscal tears.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trial ISRCTN43527822.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blyth
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Francq
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Katriona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brooksbank
authors.affiliation: Muirside Medical Practice, Baillieston Health Centre, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Downie
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Bryn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.affiliation: Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McConnachie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norrie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis; D012606:Scotland; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D055815:Young Adult