View source for Straight leg raise

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{{SK}} Lasègue's sign; lasègue test
==Overview==
The '''straight leg raise''' is a test done during the physical examination to determine whether a patient with [[low back pain]] has an underlying [[Spinal disc herniation|herniated disk]].

==Historical Perspective==
It was named after [[Charles Lasègue]] (1816-1883).
==Technique==
With the patient lying down on a table, the examiner lifts the patient's leg while the [[knee]] is straight.

A variation is to lift the leg while the patient is sitting.<ref name="pmid6446157">{{cite journal |author=Waddell G, McCulloch JA, Kummel E, Venner RM |title=Nonorganic physical signs in low-back pain |journal=Spine |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=117-25 |year=1980 |pmid=6446157 |doi=}}</ref> However, this reduces the sensitivity of the test.<ref name="pmid17601462">{{cite journal |author=Rabin A, Gerszten PC, Karausky P, Bunker CH, Potter DM, Welch WC |title=The sensitivity of the seated straight-leg raise test compared with the supine straight-leg raise test in patients presenting with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of lumbar nerve root compression |journal=Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation |volume=88 |issue=7 |pages=840-3 |year=2007 |pmid=17601462 |doi=10.1016/j.apmr.2007.04.016}}</ref>

==Interpretation==
"The straight leg raise test is positive if pain in the sciatic distribution is reproduced between 30° and 70° passive flexion of the straight leg." <ref name="pmid15130982">{{cite journal |author=Speed C |title=Low back pain |journal=BMJ |volume=328 |issue=7448 |pages=1119-21 |year=2004 |pmid=15130982 |doi=10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1119}}</ref>

A [[meta-analysis]] reported the accuracy as:<ref name="pmid10788860">{{cite journal |author=Devillé WL, van der Windt DA, Dzaferagić A, Bezemer PD, Bouter LM |title=The test of Lasègue: systematic review of the accuracy in diagnosing herniated discs |journal=Spine |volume=25 |issue=9 |pages=1140-7 |year=2000 |pmid=10788860 |doi=}}</ref>
* [[sensitivity (tests)|Sensitivity]] 91%
* [[specificity (tests)|Specificity]] 26%

If raising the opposite leg causes pain (cross straight leg raising):
* [[sensitivity (tests)|Sensitivity]] 29%
* [[specificity (tests)|Specificity]] 88%

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Symptoms and signs}}	


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