Best Orthopedic Tests for Differential Diagnosis An Evidence- Informed Approach

Course overview

In clinical practice, musculoskeletal clinicians use tests and measures for a probabilistic approach to clinical decision-making. This decision-making approach requires that the tests and measures provide tangible value and can alter the post-test probability of diagnosis or prognosis. Recent evidence also dictates that selected tests should be used either early in the examination process to rule out contenders or late in the examination process to confirm hypotheses. The use of diagnostic accuracy values such as sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratios has improved our ability to discriminate tests' strengths. The focus of this course is to provide those tests and measures and the appropriate order within an examination that improves the probability of a correct diagnosis or outcome.