Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

What type of condition does the straight leg raise test help indicate?

1. Hip labral tear

2. Herniated disc

3. Patellar tendonitis

4. Achilles tendonitis

The correct answer is: Herniated disc

The straight leg raise test is primarily used to assess for lumbar nerve root irritation or compromise, often associated with conditions like a herniated disc. During this test, the patient lies supine, and the examiner raises the patient's leg while keeping the knee straight. If there is nerve root irritation, particularly affecting the L4, L5, or S1 nerve roots, this maneuver will often elicit pain radiating down the leg, which is characteristic of sciatica associated with a herniated disc. In contrast, while the other conditions listed can cause discomfort or pain, they are assessed through different mechanisms. A hip labral tear is typically investigated with specific hip movement tests rather than the straight leg raise. Patellar tendonitis and Achilles tendonitis involve different areas of the body (the knee and ankle, respectively) and are more related to tendon stress and not to nerve root irritation, hence they would not typically cause positive findings in the straight leg raise test.