Examination of the tibiofemoral joint should be performed in a stepwise manner. In general, one performs stability testing for anterior translation, posterior translation, medial sided injuries, and posterolateral injuries in a uniform and stepwise manner to determine if there are any associated instabilities. It is important when performing this testing to compare any motion increases to the normal contralateral knee because there is a relative amount of physiologic differences between patients, so one should always compare knee motion between sides when possible.
About the Author: Robert LaPrade, MD
Robert LaPrade, MD, PhD has specialized skills and expertise in diagnosing and treating complicated knee injuries. He has treated athletes at all levels, including Olympic, professional and intercollegiate athletes, and has returned numerous athletes back to full participation after surgeries. Recognized globally for his outstanding and efficient surgical skills and dedication to sports medicine, he has received many research awards, including the OREF Clinic Research Award considered by many a Nobel Prize in orthopedics. Dr. LaPrade is one of the most published investigators in his field, and many of the surgeries that he has developed are now performed worldwide and recognized as the “gold standard” for the treatment of complex knee injuries.