Physical Exam

McMurray Sign

also known as McMurray's test

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient supine, fully flex the knee. To test the medial meniscus, hold the foot and externally rotate the tibia, then slowly extend the knee while palpating the medial joint line; a positive test is a palpable or audible click (often with pain) as the knee moves through its arc. To test the lateral meniscus, internally rotate the tibia and extend in the same way while palpating the lateral joint line.

How to Interpret

Lateral Meniscus Tear

McMurray sign positive

Rule in

Somewhat helpful

Rule out

Somewhat helpful

Evidence:Limited

Medial Meniscus Tear

McMurray sign positive

Rule in

Somewhat helpful

Rule out

Somewhat helpful

Evidence:Limited

References

Shekarchi B, Panahi A, Raeissadat SA, Maleki N, Nayebabbas S, Farhadi P. Comparison of Thessaly Test with Joint Line Tenderness and McMurray Test in the Diagnosis of Meniscal Tears. Malays Orthop J. 2020 Jul;14(2):94-100. doi:10.5704/MOJ.2007.018. PMID 32983383. PMC7513660 (open access, CC BY). Prospective observational cohort, 106 consecutive knee-pain patients (referral clinic) + controls; McMurray performed separately at the medial and lateral sides; MRI and arthroscopy reference standards.
Shekarchi B, Panahi A, Raeissadat SA, Maleki N, Nayebabbas S, Farhadi P. Comparison of Thessaly Test with Joint Line Tenderness and McMurray Test in the Diagnosis of Meniscal Tears. Malays Orthop J. 2020 Jul;14(2):94-100. doi:10.5704/MOJ.2007.018. PMID 32983383. PMC7513660 (open access, CC BY). Prospective observational cohort, 106 consecutive knee-pain patients (referral clinic) + controls; McMurray performed separately at the medial and lateral sides; the committed stats are Shekarchi’s lateral-side arthroscopy operating characteristics (Table II); MRI and arthroscopy reference standards. (The compound ‘tibial meniscus’ meta-analytic pools of Hegedus 2007 [J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 37(9):541-550, PMID 17939613] and Smith 2015 [PMID 25724195] do not isolate the lateral compartment and so cannot anchor this lateral-compartment-specific finding (target alignment); no compartment-stratified bedside meta-analysis exists.)
McMurray TP. The semilunar cartilages. Br J Surg. 1942;29(116):407-414.