Special Tests of the Knee

The anterior drawer test evaluates the anterior cruciate ligament. To perform this test, place the knee in ninety degrees of flexion with the patient laying supine and the foot stabilized on the table. Grasp the posterior aspect of the tibia over the upper calf muscle and pull forward with a steady force. If the tibia bone pulls forward more than normal (compare with the uninjured leg) the test is positive. This is indicative of an anterior cruciate ligament tear.