Rent Test

Purpose[edit | edit source]

To test for the presence of rotator cuff tears.

Technique[edit | edit source]

Patient is seated with examiner standing behind patient. Have patient relax - palpate anterior margin of the acromion through the deltoid - while doing this grasp the patient's arm with the other hand at the elbow/forearm (patients elbow should be flexed to ~ 90 degrees) and bring into extension. Passively internally and externally rotate patients arm to palpate rotator cuff tendons. Presence of palpable or prominent eminence (Greater tuberosity) and/or rent (defect or 'sulcus')[1] is indicative of full-thickness tear. [2][3][4]

[5]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Wolf and Agrawal[2] report Sensitivity and Specificity of 95.7% (.96[4]) and 96.8% (.97[4]) respectively with a positive predictive value of 95.7%, negative predictive value of 96.8% and a diagnostic accuracy of 96.3%. Cleland[4] calculates a +LR of 32.0 and -LR of .04.  Lyons and Tomlinson[3] reported Sn of 91% (.91) and Sp of 75% (.75).

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Dutton M. Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies (2nd Ed.) 2008
  2. 2.0 2.1 Wolf EM & Agrawal V. Transdeltoid palpation (the rent test) in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. Sept/Oct 2001;10(5):470-473
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lyons AR & Tomlinson JE. Clinical Diagnosis of Tears of the Rotator Cuff. J Bone Joint Surg. May 1991;(74):404-405
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cleland J. Orthopaedic Clinical Examination: An Evidence-Based Approach for Physical Therapists. Philadelphia; Saunders, Elsevier: 2007
  5. Clinically Relevant Technologies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA6oasQWGFA, Accessed May 2011