Excessive forward translation in the anterior drawer test suggests injury to which structure?

Excessive forward translation in the anterior drawer test suggests injury to which structure?

• A. ACL
• B. PCL
• C. MCL
• D. LCL

Answer: (A)

An ACL injury is suspected when the knee shows excessive forward motion of the tibia relative to the femur during the anterior drawer test, because the ACL normally resists forward tibial translation. If the ACL is torn, pulling the tibia forward yields markedly more anterior translation and a softer end feel. The test is specifically designed to stress the ACL; a normal, intact ACL would limit this forward movement. In contrast, the posterior drawer test assesses the PCL, which prevents backward (posterior) tibial translation, and the collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) are evaluated with valgus/varus stress tests that address medial or lateral stability rather than anterior translation.

An ACL injury is suspected when the knee shows excessive forward motion of the tibia relative to the femur during the anterior drawer test, because the ACL normally resists forward tibial translation. If the ACL is torn, pulling the tibia forward yields markedly more anterior translation and a softer end feel. The test is specifically designed to stress the ACL; a normal, intact ACL would limit this forward movement. In contrast, the posterior drawer test assesses the PCL, which prevents backward (posterior) tibial translation, and the collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) are evaluated with valgus/varus stress tests that address medial or lateral stability rather than anterior translation.