Yergason's test

Yergason's test an orthopedic physical examination test used in assessing the biceps tendon and glenoid labrum.

Purpose of the test

The test tries to elicit: pain in the bicipital groove indicating biceps tendinitis, subluxation of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle, and presence of a SLAP tear

History

• Yergason described the case of a woman with bicipital pain that was confirmed with isolated forearm supination.
• Since publication of this respective case report in 1931, orthopedic assessment textbooks have provided a wide range of descriptions for Yergason's Test and what a positive sign implicates.

Limitations

• Vast differences in hand placement, along with the vernacular for shoulder, forearm, and elbow motions, have been associated with Yergason's Test.
• Many authors associate pain with the maneuver as a diagnosis for a rupture of the transverse humeral ligament (THL) and subsequent subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon (LBT).
• Many now believe that the THL is not a distinct ligament; rather, support of the LBT within the bicipital groove occurs from a fibrous extension of the subscapularis tendon.
• The evaluation of the subscapularis when a subluxing LBT is suspected is critical.