Abstract
BACKGROUND: Eliciting and interpreting clinical signs is essential in diagnosing many rheumatic disorders but the sensitivity and specificity of many of these signs for any given disorder remains poorly categorised. OBJECTIVE: To discuss important clinical signs in rheumatological disease and to assess their clinical significance. DISCUSSION: Physical examination forms a vital part of the assessment of musculoskeletal and rheumatic disorders but there remains a need for studies to assess the clinical usefulness of a number of the clinical signs elicited. The patterns of presentation of groups of clinical signs are of more diagnostic significance than individual clinical signs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1223-1227 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Australian Family Physician |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1999 |