II. Indications

III. Technique

  1. Patient supine
    1. Hips flexed to 45 degrees
    2. Knees flexed to 90 degrees
    3. Feet flat on table
  2. Examiner sits on patients feet to fix in place
    1. Hold lower leg above calf with both hands
    2. Apply sudden firm pull forward (Anterior Drawer)
    3. Apply sudden firm push back (Posterior Drawer)
  3. Consider repeating maneuver in three positions of tibial rotation
    1. Tibia with no rotation (neutral)
    2. Tibia with 30 degrees internally rotated
    3. Tibia with 30 degrees externally rotated
  4. Images
    1. orthoKneeAnteriorDrawer.jpg

IV. Interpretation: Positive Test

  1. Normal test result shows no more than 6-8 mm of laxity
  2. Anterior Drawer: Endpoint laxity suggests Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture (ACL Rupture)
  3. Posterior Drawer: Endpoint laxity suggests Posterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture (PCL Rupture)

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies