facet, farfans torsion test, joint dysfunction, lumbar spine, ortho, pars articularis, prone, segmentally, special test

Purpose

Farfan’s test is used to identify pars articularis or facet joint dysfunction and then identify the specific level of pars articularis or facet joint dysfunction.

Technique

Patient positioned prone.

Clinician stands on side being tested.

Clinician finds the spinous process of T12 and places thumb of cranial hand on the spinous process to block the side Clinician is standing on.

Clinician’s caudal hand goes under the ASIS on the opposite side and lifts up rotating back to the segment.

If pain is produced, Clinician palpates L5 spinous process and blocks it with cranial hand.

Clinician uses caudal hand to lift and rotate opposite hip.

Clinician continues cranially segmentally until pain reproduced.

Positive

Reproduction of pain.

Interpretation

Positive initial test indicates pars articularis or facet joint dysfunction. When testing segmentally, testing is stopped at the first level that reproduces pain because a pars articularis or facet joint dysfunction is located at that level.

Reference

1. Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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