Which inflamed tissues explain a positive metatarsophalangeal squeeze test? A large imaging study to clarify a common diagnostic procedure.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The squeeze test of MTP joints is frequently used because it is easy and cheap. It is traditionally perceived as a test for synovitis. Besides classic intra-articular synovitis, also tenosynovitis and intermetatarsal bursitis (IMB) represent synovial inflammation, albeit juxta-articularly located. Both are frequently present in RA and occasionally in other arthritides. Therefore we hypothesized that tenosynovitis and IMB contribute to a positive MTP squeeze test.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 192 early arthritis patients and 693 clinically suspect arthralgia patients underwent the MTP squeeze test and forefoot MRI at first presentation. MRI measurements in age-matched healthy controls were used to define positivity for synovitis, teno

SUBMITTER: van Dijk BT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9536781 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature