Cooper's sign is a test for meniscal

Meniscus (anatomy)

In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...

 damage in the knee

Knee

The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...

. It involves the patient complaining of joint line pain in the affected knee when turning over in bed at night changing position of their legs. It is thought that the meniscal tear causes pain as the torn fragment is torqued between the femur

Femur

The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...

 and tibia

Tibia

The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....

, and as it pulls on the joint capsule

Joint capsule

An articular capsule is an envelope surrounding a synovial joint.-Layers:Each capsule consists of two layers:* an outer layer composed of avascular white fibrous tissue...

, pain is felt. This test can differentiate knee pain from arthritic pain which is more common with weightbearing.

If the Cooper's Test is positive, an MRI may be indicated for a definitive diagnosis.

Related tests

The McMurray's Test is an older test also used to determine meniscal tearing. It involves the rotation of the tibia on the femur in an attempt to cause a "click" to be felt as the meniscal fragment is caught. Described in the late 19th century, it is non-specific as many conditions cause a "click" in the knee.

The Thessaly Test is a newer test for meniscal damage where the patient stands with their weight on the affected leg, and then flexes his knee to 30 degrees and twists to the right and left. Reproduction of the pain is considered positive for meniscal tearing.

External links

Described by Dr. David Cooper of The Knee Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. http://thekneecenter.com