The Scour test is performed with the patient in which position?

• A. Supine
• B. Prone
• C. Standing
• D. Seated

Answer: (A)

The Scour test is performed with the patient in a supine position. This setup lets the examiner apply a controlled axial load through the femur while moving the hip through its range to “scour” the joint surfaces. Lying on the back stabilizes the pelvis and isolates the hip, so the clinician can compress the femoral head into the acetabulum and gradually vary hip movements to provoke intra-articular pathology such as cartilage damage or a labral tear. A positive sign is pain, grinding, or apprehension in the hip during the maneuver. Other positions would make it hard to deliver a consistent downward load and could involve the knee, spine, or other joints, reducing the test’s specificity for the hip.