(Click to Enlarge)
A positive varus stress test at 0° of knee flexion is usually indicative of a severe combined posterolateral corner and cruciate ligament injury. In addition, it is not uncommon to have an avulsion of structures off the fibular head […]
(Click to Enlarge)[/caption]
The external rotation recurvatum test is the first test performed to evaluate a patient with potential posterolateral rotatory instability. In this test, the examiner determines if there is an increased amount of knee hyperextension compared to the contralateral side. The test […]
The posterolateral corner of the knee is a very complex area with many important structures which are intricately related to prevent both increased lateral compartment gapping and rotation. There are many different tests which are utilized to assess for posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee. While some examiners feel that the increased amount of varus […]
The anteromedial drawer test assesses the amount of increased external rotation due to a medial knee injury. It is performed with the knee flexed to 90°, the foot in external rotation, and an anteromedial rotatory force is applied to the proximal tibia. This test is commonly confused with the posterolateral drawer test (to […]
(Click to Enlarge)
The valgus stress test at 30° is the workhorse test for determining if there is a medial knee injury present. The main structure which provides valgus stability to the knee at 20° – 30° of knee flexion is the […]
(Click to Enlarge)
With a valgus stress test at 0°, one is assessing for the potential of a combined medial knee and cruciate ligament injury. When one applies a valgus force to the knee in full extension, the amount of medial gapping […]
The medial, or inside, of the knee is the source of the most frequent knee ligament injury. While commonly referred to as the “MCL”, the medial side of the knee is actually composed of several important structures, with several components, which must be assessed to determine the best way to get back to proper functioning. […]
(Click to Enlarge)
The posterior drawer test is the mainstay test for assessment of a PCL tear. However, it has been determined to be relatively inaccurate for objective testing for preoperative and postoperative assessment and should be augmented with the use of […]
(Click to Enlarge Image)
The quadriceps active test basically starts at the initial position of the tibial drop back sign. In a patient with an intact PCL, when one fires their quadriceps mechanism at 90° of knee flexion, the knee should not move […]
With the tibial drop back sign, one relies on gravity with the knee flexed to 90° to compare if there is any “dropping back” of the tibia on the injured side compared to the normal contralateral knee. In this test, one compares the prominence of the proximal tibia to the femoral condyles with the knee […]
