Patellar Apprehension Test (Fairbank’s) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Assessing history of Lateral Patellar Dislocation.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine, knee flexed to 30° (quads relaxed).
- Action: Examiner slowly pushes the patella laterally.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Patient actively contracts the quadriceps or expresses fear (apprehension) to stop the dislocation.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 100%
- Specificity: 88%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Patellar Apprehension Test (Fairbank’s) 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 Knee region, combining the Patellar Apprehension Test (Fairbank’s) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
