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 |
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Pages (from-to) | 1223-1227 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Australian Family Physician |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 12 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1999 |