Elbow
Ligamentous Instability (Lateral)
Evidence: suggestive
Tabletop Relocation Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Posterolateral Rotatory Instability (PLRI).
- Useful for patients who are too apprehensive for the Pivot-Shift test.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient stands facing a table.
- Action: Patient places the hand of the symptomatic arm on the edge of the table (forearm supinated) and pushes up.
- Relocation: The examiner applies pressure to the radial head to prevent subluxation, usually relieving pain.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Symptoms (pain/apprehension) occur when pushing up but are relieved when the examiner stabilizes the radial head.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Tabletop Relocation 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 Elbow region, combining the Tabletop Relocation Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
