Which test is most directly used to assess patellofemoral pathology in cases of suspected subluxation?

• A. Clarke Test
• B. PFJ Apprehension Test
• C. Mital/Hyden Test
• D. Apley's Test

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to provoke the very movement that would cause patellofemoral instability. The patellofemoral apprehension test does exactly that: with the knee moderately flexed, the examiner gently applies a lateral force to the patella and observes the patient’s reaction. If the patient shows apprehension or protective guarding, it indicates a tendency for the patella to sublux laterally and suggests patellofemoral instability. This direct provocation of potential subluxation is why this test is the best choice for suspected patellofemoral pathology related to subluxation. Other tests target different issues—pain with patellofemoral compression during quadriceps contraction (not instability), or are used for meniscal problems—so they’re less directly related to subluxation.