Table 2

Included studies characteristic summary

Study	Mean age (range)	Mean symptom duration	Number and sex	Criterion standard	Affected meniscus	Test(s)	SN	SP	LR+	LR−	Authors’ conclusion
Akseki et al29	35.7 (17–73)	32.4 months	110m	Arthroscopy	Med	McMurray's	0.67	0.69	2.16	0.48	Higher positive predictive values were obtained with McMurray's, but similar negative predictive values were achieved
			40F		Lat		0.53	0.88	4.42	0.53
					Med	JLT	0.88	0.44	1.57	0.27
					Lat		0.67	0.80	3.35	0.41
Corea et al67	25.3 (18–40)	Not stated	93 sex not stated	Arthroscopy/arthrotomy	Med	McMurray's	0.65	0.93	9.51	0.38	McMurray’s test is of poor sensitivity for detecting injured menisci. A negative test, however, is useful in excluding a meniscal tear
Corea et al67	25.3 (18–40)	Not stated	93 sex not stated	Arthroscopy/arthrotomy	Lat	McMurray's	0.52	0.94	7.94	0.52
Eren30	19.2 (18–20)	14 months	104M	Arthroscopy	Med	JLT	0.86	0.67	2.61	0.21	JLT as a test for lateral meniscal tears is accurate; however, for medial meniscal tears, rates are lower
Eren30	19.2 (18–20)	14 months	104M	Arthroscopy	Lat	JLT	0.92	0.97	30.67	0.08
Galli et al31	29.7 (SD ±11.6)	52 months	39M	Arthroscopy	Med/Lat	McMurray's	0.34	0.86	2.52	0.76	JLT alone is of little clinical usefulness. A negative McMurray test does not modify the pretest probability of a meniscal lesion, while a positive result has a fair predictive value
Galli et al31	29.7 (SD ±11.6)	52 months	17F	Arthroscopy	Med/Lat	JLT	0.63	0.50	1.26	0.74
Karachalios et al11	29.9 (18–56)	Not stated	301M	MRI	Med	McMurray's	0.48	0.94	8.00	0.55	The Thessaly test at 20° of knee flexion can be used effectively as a first-line clinical screening testfor meniscal tears
			109F		Lat		0.65	0.86	4.64	0.41
					Med	Apley's	0.41	0.93	5.86	0.63
					Lat		0.41	0.86	2.93	0.69
					Med	JLT	0.71	0.87	5.46	0.33
					Lat		0.78	0.90	7.80	0.24
					Med	Thessaly 5°	0.66	0.96	16.50	0.35
					Lat		0.81	0.91	9.00	0.21
					Med	Thessaly 20°	0.89	0.97	29.67	0.11
					Lat		0.92	0.96	23.00	0.08
Konan et al53	39 (16–56)	Not stated	80M	Arthroscopy	Med	McMurray's	0.50	0.77	2.17	0.65	Physical tests may not always be diagnostic of meniscal tears. MRI and arthroscopy may be essential in dubious clinical presentations and especially where more than one pathology is suspected
			29F		Lat		0.21	0.94	3.50	0.84
					Med	JLT	0.83	0.76	3.46	0.22
					Lat		0.68	0.97	22.67	0.33
					Med	Thessaly 5°	0.41	0.68	1.29	0.86
					Lat		0.16	0.89	1.44	0.95
Manzotti et al68	32.4 (17–48)	26.5 months	94M	Arthroscopy	Med	McMurray's	0.88	0.50	1.76	0.24	McMurray's test is a valuable diagnostic tool when used in association with other clinical manoeuvres
Manzotti et al68	32.4 (17–48)	26.5 months	36F	Arthroscopy	Lat		0.79	0.20	0.99	1.50
Mirzatolooei et al69	26.63 (17–40)	Not stated	76M	Arthroscopy	Med/Lat	McMurray's	0.51	0.91	5.67	0.54	The Thessaly test has a low specificity in patients with combined anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal injuries and cannot be recommended as a diagnostic test in this setting
			4F		Med/Lat	JLT	0.92	0.63	2.49	0.13
			4F		Med/Lat	Thessaly 20°	0.79	0.40	1.32	0.53
Rinonapoli et al21	27.8 (20–50)	Not stated	75M	Arthroscopy	Med/Lat	McMurray's	0.80	0.79	3.71	0.26	The present study revealed that the assessed clinical tests for detecting meniscal tears are only partially reliable
Rinonapoli et al21	27.8 (20–50)	Not stated	27F	Arthroscopy	Med/Lat	Apley's	0.84	0.71	2.93	0.23

F, female; JLT, joint line tenderness; Lat, lateral; LR−, negative likelihood ratio; LR+, positive likelihood ratio; M, male; Med, medial; SN, sensitivity; SP, specificity.