Drawer test
Drawer test is a clinical examination procedure used by healthcare professionals to diagnose injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in the knee. The test is named for the action of pulling or pushing the tibia, which resembles opening or closing a drawer.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The drawer test is performed with the patient lying flat on their back on an examination table. The healthcare professional will bend the patient's knee to a 90-degree angle and then attempt to pull the tibia forward or push it backward. The amount of movement observed can indicate whether the ACL or PCL is injured.
Anterior Drawer Test[edit | edit source]
In the anterior drawer test, the healthcare professional pulls the tibia forward. If the tibia moves forward more than expected, this may indicate an injury to the ACL.
Posterior Drawer Test[edit | edit source]
In the posterior drawer test, the healthcare professional pushes the tibia backward. If the tibia moves backward more than expected, this may indicate an injury to the PCL.
Interpretation[edit | edit source]
The results of the drawer test should be interpreted in the context of the patient's symptoms and other clinical findings. A positive drawer test indicates a potential ligament injury, but further diagnostic tests, such as an MRI, may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Limitations[edit | edit source]
The drawer test has some limitations. It may not be accurate in patients with multiple knee injuries or in patients with significant pain or muscle guarding. In addition, the test's accuracy can depend on the examiner's experience and technique.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Drawer test Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
