Validez del test de deslizamiento posteroanterior cervical medio respecto a análisis radiológico dinámico

Abstract

Introduction: There is a need to validate and coherently confirm clinical tests for the diagnosis of intervertebral joint dysfunctions. In the spine, restriction of intervertebral mobility may lead to a temporary reduction of postero-anterior vertebral gliding, which is diagnosed by means of physical examination. Objective: To validate the postero-anterior middle cervical spine gliding test (PAMCESG), taking radiology as the gold standard. Material and methods: The study design followed the STARD methodology. The sample included 28 young adult subjects with mechanical neck pain (MNP) who underwent the PAMCESG at the middle cervical spine and dynamic radiology in flexion and extension, analyzed with the Penning method. The statistical tests performed in the experimental part were as follows: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and global validity of the PAMCESG test with respect to the radiological criterion and one-way ANOVA. Results: A relationship was observed between the results of the PAMCESG and those of radiological measurements. The sensitivity of the PAMCESG test (C3-C4: 80%; C4-C5; 100%; C5-C9: 100%) was high. The negative predictive value (C3-C4: 93.75%; C4-C5: 100%; C5-C6: 100%) was also high. Conclusions: Because of its high sensitivity (C3-C4: 80%; C4- C5; 100%; C5-C9: 100%), the PAMCESG can be considered a valid diagnostic test to detect patients with hypomobilities in the cervical levels studied in patients with MNP. The high negative predictive value (C3-C4: 93.75%; C4-C5: 100%; C5-C6: 100%) of this test indicates that a negative diagnosis identifies patients without hypomobility.