How is a ruptured cruciate ligament diagnosed?
How Is an ACL Tear Diagnosed?
- An X-ray will help determine whether there are any broken bones.
- An MRI helps to specifically diagnose an ACL tear and look at the other ligaments and structures in your knee.
- If there are concerns about small bone fractures, you might need a CT scan of your knee.
Which test is most sensitive for ACL tear diagnosis?
The Lachman test is the most sensitive and the pivot shift the most specific test for the diagnosis of ACL rupture.
Which test is used to test the ACL PCL?
The Lachman test is a specific clinical exam technique used to evaluate patients with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The test relies on proper positioning and technique and is regarded as the most sensitive and specific test for diagnosing acute ACL injuries.
What is the gold standard for diagnosing anterior cruciate ligament injuries?
The gold standard in ACL injury evaluation is diagnostic arthroscopy3,4; however, the diagnostic accuracy of clinical diagnostic tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is debatable. Because of the frequency of knee injury,3 MRI is a common diagnostic tool used for imaging and diagnosis.
What are 2 special tests to determine laxity of the posterior cruciate ligament?
Several clinical tests for PCL laxity have been described over the years, with varying degrees of sensitivity and clinical applicability. These include the posterior drawer,1 the Muller Quadriceps Active Test,2,3 Godfrey’s Test,4 Trillat’s reversal achman/total translation test,5 and the Dynamic Posterior Shift.
What is a positive ACL test?
It is important that the examiner’s thumb be on the tibial tuberosity. On pulling the tibia anteriorly, an intact ACL should prevent forward translational movement of the tibia on the femur (“firm end-feel”). Anterior translation of the tibia associated with a soft or a mushy end-feel indicates a positive test.
What is the best test for ACL?
The Lachman test is the most accurate test for detecting an ACL tear. Magnetic resonance imaging is the primary study used to diagnose ACL injury in the United States. It can also identify concomitant meniscal injury, collateral ligament tear, and bone contusions.
What does a positive pivot shift test mean?
Definition/Description The movement is a combination of axial load and valgus force, applied by the examiner, during a knee flexion from an extended position. When the test is positive, it indicates an injury of the anterior cruciate ligament.
What does a positive drawer test mean?
If the tibia pulls forward or backward more than normal, the test is considered positive. Excessive displacement of the tibia anteriorly suggests that the anterior cruciate ligament is injured, whereas excessive posterior displacement of the tibia may indicate injury of the posterior cruciate ligament.