Have a doctor perform the Lachman test. tibia forward as you would in doing theanterior drawer A doctor will ask you to bend your knee, leaving your foot on the exam table. Most examiners grade the results of the Lachman test on two criteria. 14. The presence of blood in the knee will distend the knee joint capsule and limit the motions in the knee, especiallyflexion. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Do not attempt to elicit an anterior drawer sign with legs hanging; the extra degree of freedom will confound any findings. First, the endpoint, and second, the amount of laxity. are injured. fooled into thinking that the anterior drawer sign was present when The information provided is for educational purposes only. a positive sign). If you think you have an ACL injury, the Lachman test can be used along with several other tests to confirm the injury and help you figure out what to do next. Saving You Time. Then, you want to redo that process every couple of days. 22. (fig You can sit with your leg extended. Scholten RJ, Opstelten W, van der Plas CG, et al. MARK H. EBELL, M.D., M.S., Athens, Georgia. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. 2016;1(2):209-229. doi:10.3390/jfmk1020209. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Apply an This guide is one in a series that offers evidence-based tools to assist family physicians in improving their decision-making at the point of care. This article was co-authored by Jonathan Frank, MD. The 2015 study noted a similar success rate of about 93 percent. Katz JW, et al. What is the function of the anterior cruciate ligament? Physical examination of the knee: a review of the original test description and scientific validity of common orthopedic tests. I will be going to the doctor again this week to obtain an actual diagnosis. If the tibia, compared with the tibia of the uninjured leg, moves farther anteriorly, or if the endpoint feels softened or is absent, the result is positive for an ACL injury. Grade 2 (moderate): 5-10 mm more translation of the tibia on the femur. For example, having weak and brittle bones, having ineffective development of your cartilage, or being obese can all increase your chances of an ACL tear. degrees. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Confirm-a-Partial-ACL-Tear-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Confirm-a-Partial-ACL-Tear-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Confirm-a-Partial-ACL-Tear-Step-4.jpg\/aid4686801-v4-728px-Confirm-a-Partial-ACL-Tear-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"