Lecture 2

Straight leg traction (SLT) sign. A new clinical sign for diagnosing vertebral fractures

• Dr Iván Ortega Moreno

  Doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  Doctor of Medicine

Olympia Medical Center, Madrid, SPAIN

iivanortega@gmail.com

Abstract

We try to validate the SLT (Straight leg traction) sign, first described by Dr. Miguel Noriega as a spondylogenic sign for the diagnosis of clinical vertebral fracture.

The test of 74 patients treated at Clínica Cemtro with a possible vertebral fracture was studied.

Sensitivity and specificity of the test were studied. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were studied.

The traction on the straight leg can be validated as a simple clinical test to confirm vertebral fractures in women over 65 years of age and can even be referred to as a pathognomic sign of dorsolumbar vertebral fracture.

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