Internal Rotation Lag Sign
What is the "Internal Rotation Lag Sign" used for?
- The integrity of the subscapularis tendon.
How to perform the "Internal Rotation Lag Sign"?
- The patient is seated with his or her back to the examiner.
- The affected arm is held by the examiner in almost maximal internal rotation.
- The elbow is flexed to 90 degrees, and the shoulder is held at 20 degrees of elevation and 20 degrees of extension.
- The dorsum of the hand is passively lifted away from the lumbar region until almost full internal rotation is reached.
- The patient is asked to maintain this position actively as the examiner releases the wrist while maintaining support at the elbow
What is the positive result?
- The sign is positive when a lag occurs.
Test Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 100 %
- Specificity: 84 %
References
- Campbel’s Operative Orthopaedics Book
- Scheibel, Markus and Peter Habermeyer. “Subscapularis dysfunction following anterior surgical approaches to the shoulder.” Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery 17 4 (2008): 671-83 .
- Internal Rotation Lag Sign | Orthofixar
