Clinical tests for the sacro-iliac joint: a literature review

Abstract

Objective: To identify which physical examination tests have the highest sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for determining the presence of sacro-iliac joint injuries and/or dysfunction when compared with the gold standard of a sacro-iliac joint block.

Subjects and Methods: The search was conducted on Medline and EMBASE using a list of criteria established by van der Wurff.

Results: Twenty-seven papers were found but only three met the inclusion criteria investigating the reliability of clinical sacro-iliac tests and using local anaesthetic block as the standard.

Conclusions: Despite possible shortcomings of the gold standard of anaesthetic block, the literature recommends the use of up to five tests and that, if three or more tests are positive, acceptable sensitivity, specificity and the predictive values are achieved.

Keywords:

• SACRO-ILIAC JOINT
• CLINICAL TEST
• DYSFUNCTION
• PREDICTIVE VALUE