Execution
- 1Position the patient side-lying with the affected ankle accessible.
- 2Face the tested foot from behind.
- 3Stabilize the tibia with one hand.
- 4Translate the fibular malleolus anteriorly and posteriorly with the other hand.
- 5Compare pain and motion with the opposite side.
Positive outcome
Pain during fibular translation or greater movement on the affected side is positive for syndesmosis injury. The test targets distal tibiofibular mobility rather than lateral ankle ligament laxity. Side-to-side comparison is essential.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sman et al. (2013) | systematic review, limited evidence for individual tests | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentMagee gives a clear fibular translation procedure but diagnostic accuracy is not well established. Pain with translation may reflect local trauma, swelling, or syndesmosis irritation. Use it as an adjunct to better-studied syndesmosis tests.
Low Clinical Value