Test library › Elbow & forearm
Elbow extension test
For: Any elbow fracture after injury
A break in any of the bones at the elbow after a fall or injury.
Best used to rule outWhat the numbers mean
- Positive result: barely informative: a positive result changes little.
- Negative result: a strong rule-out: a negative result makes the diagnosis very unlikely.
Source
Appelboam A, Reuben AD, Benger JR, et al. Elbow extension test to rule out elbow fracture: multicentre, prospective validation and observational study of diagnostic accuracy in adults and children. BMJ. 2008;337:a2428. Journal article (DOI) · single study
Figures as they will appear in Rule It In, Rule It Out (Trokos, forthcoming). If a newer or better study changes them, this page changes with the book. Figures last updated from the book on 2 October 2026.
Get the book for deciding which elbows need an X-ray after a fall, and whether the distal biceps is torn
This page gives the published figures. Rule It In, Rule It Out adds how to do this test, what counts as positive, how to read the result, and, where studied, whether combining it with other tests helps.
Coming in late 2026 as a PDF and a paperback. Join the list to hear when it's out
One study, one test, once a month
Rule It In is a free evidence letter for musculoskeletal clinicians: one recent study explained, one examination test with its real numbers. From Trokos, publisher of Rule It In, Rule It Out.