Which test is used to assess acromioclavicular joint injury?

Which test is used to assess acromioclavicular joint injury?

• A. Cross-arm (horizontal adduction) test
• B. Resisted shoulder abduction test
• C. Apprehension test
• D. O'Brien test

Answer: (A)

Tests that put direct stress on the acromioclavicular joint are used to identify AC joint injury. The cross-arm (horizontal adduction) test does exactly that by having the patient place the arm across the chest and the examiner horizontally adducts it, compressing the AC joint. If this maneuver reproduces sharp pain or tenderness over the AC joint, it strongly suggests injury to the AC ligaments or the joint itself. Other shoulder tests target different structures. Resisted shoulder abduction mainly stresses the supraspinatus tendon and the deltoid rather than the AC joint. The apprehension test assesses glenohumeral joint instability, not AC pathology. The O'Brien test is more commonly used to evaluate labral pathology, though it can provoke AC joint pain in some cases, it is less specific for AC joint injury than the cross-arm test.

Tests that put direct stress on the acromioclavicular joint are used to identify AC joint injury. The cross-arm (horizontal adduction) test does exactly that by having the patient place the arm across the chest and the examiner horizontally adducts it, compressing the AC joint. If this maneuver reproduces sharp pain or tenderness over the AC joint, it strongly suggests injury to the AC ligaments or the joint itself.

Other shoulder tests target different structures. Resisted shoulder abduction mainly stresses the supraspinatus tendon and the deltoid rather than the AC joint. The apprehension test assesses glenohumeral joint instability, not AC pathology. The O'Brien test is more commonly used to evaluate labral pathology, though it can provoke AC joint pain in some cases, it is less specific for AC joint injury than the cross-arm test.