Ga. Voit et al., SALINE LOAD TEST FOR PENETRATION OF PERIARTICULAR LACERATIONS, Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume, 78B(5), 1996, pp. 732-733
We used a saline load test in 50 consecutive patients with periarticul
ar lacerations suggestive of joint penetration, The surgeon had predic
ted on clinical grounds whether or not the laceration penetrated the j
oint, Joint penetration was demonstrated in 14 and was absent in 36, A
comparison of the prediction and the test results showed that there w
ere false-positive clinical results in 39% and false-negative ire 43%.
There were no complications from the use of the test. Our findings su
pport the use of a saline load test in evaluating periarticular lacera
tions.