Spine Lumbar Spine Evidence: suggestive

Kemp's Test (Quadrant Test) Special Test

Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide

Kemp's Test (Quadrant Test) Orthopedic Special Test

What is it used for?

  • Diagnosing Facet Joint Syndrome or Lateral Stenosis.

How to Perform

  • Position: Patient standing (or seated).
  • Action: Examiner guides patient into Extension, Side-bending, and Rotation towards the painful side. Then applies overpressure.

Interpretation of Results

  • Local Pain: Facet Joint pathology.
  • Radiating Pain: Nerve root compression (Stenosis).

Diagnostic Accuracy

  • Sensitivity: 70%
  • Specificity: 67%

Clinical Context & Limitations

The Kemp's Test (Quadrant Test) should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.

Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Spine region, combining the Kemp's Test (Quadrant Test) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.

References

  • Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.

Further Clinical Exploration

Spurling's Test
Spine Examination

Spurling's Test

Distraction Test
Spine Examination

Distraction Test

Lasegue Test (Straight Leg Raise)
Spine Examination

Lasegue Test (Straight Leg Raise)

Crossed Over Lasegue (Well Leg Raise)
Spine Examination

Crossed Over Lasegue (Well Leg Raise)