Which test is used to identify a tear of the glenoid labrum?

• A. Clunk
• B. Roos
• C. Speed
• D. O'Brien

Answer: (A)

A tear of the glenoid labrum is identified with the clunk test because it reproduces a mechanical clunk or grinding as the humeral head is translated over the rim of the glenoid. The labrum deepens the socket to stabilize the shoulder; when a tear is present, part of the labrum can catch or flap during movement. In this test, the clinician positions the shoulder to load the joint and then moves the humeral head so it slides across the rim. If a torn labrum is there, the edge catches, producing a clunk that the clinician can feel or hear, signaling labral pathology.

Other tests target different issues: Roos assesses thoracic outlet syndrome, not labral tears; a Speed test screens for biceps tendon pathology; O'Brien’s test is used to evaluate SLAP lesions, though it can be less specific than the clunk test for labral tears in some cases.