Patellar Pubic Percussion Test | Occult Hip Fractures

Execution:

  1. Patient is in supine position
  2. The examiner places the stethoscope on the pubic tubercle lateral to the pubic symphysis on the side to be examined
  3. Then tap on the patella and look for a distinct sharp sound
  4. Compare the findings with the other side

 

Positive Outcome: A dull instead of a sharp sound is indicative of a hip fracture

Study

 Reliability Sn Sp LR+ LR-

Reiman et al. (2013)

 NA 95 86 6.11

0.07
Smeets et al. (2018) К= 0.7 85 70 2.83

0.21
Comment: Although the study of Smeets et al. (2018) only scores moderately to rule out an occult hip and/or pelvic fracture, the meta-analysis of Reimand et al. (2013) indicates better accuracy.