Hughston Plica Test

What is the "Hughston Plica Test" used for?

• Used for the presence of Plica Syndrome of the knee.

How to perform the "Hughston Plica Test"?

• The patient lies in the supine position and the examiner grasps around the knee with one hand from an anterolateral position and presses the patella medially with the heel of the hand while palpating the medial femoral condyle with the fingers of the same hand.
• The examiner grasps the patient’s heel with the other hand, internally rotates the lower leg and then repeatedly flexes and extends the knee.

What is the positive result?

• A painful audible or palpable “popping” suggests a mediopatellar plica syndrome.

References

• Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System 3rd Edition.