Sharp Purser Test | Transverse Ligament Integrity

Execution:

  1. Patient is in sitting position with the upper cervical spine in a semi-flexed position which might already produce symptoms of dura and spinal cord compression
  2. The examiner fixates the patient’s spinous process of C2 with a key grip from posterior to anterior and places the other hand on the patient’s forehead
  3. The examiner presses on the forehead in order to move the occiput and C1 in in relation to C2

 

Positive Outcome: Excessive motion, sliding or clunking are felt or heard or/and decrease of symptoms of dura and spinal cord compression in patients with symptoms in the semiflexed position

Study

Reliability Sn Sp LR+

LR-

Hutting et al. (2013)

ĸ=0.06 -0.67

19-69 71-98 0.66-34.5

1.14-0.44

Mansfield et al. (2020)

Intra-rater k=0.29-0.67 Inter-rater k=0.09-0.67

19-100 71-98 0.66-22

1.14-0.32

Comment: Due to the low reliability and low and variable sensitivity the test cannot exclude instability and it may be inappropriate to use due to inconsistent validity, poor inter-rater reliability, and potential to cause harm