Which test is used to assess knee instability related to a meniscal issue?

Which test is used to assess knee instability related to a meniscal issue?

• A. Lachman test
• B. McMurray test
• C. Anterior drawer test
• D. Pivot shift test

Answer: (B)

Knee instability from a meniscal issue shows up as mechanical symptoms in the joint that are best revealed when the knee is loaded and twisted. The McMurray test does exactly that: with the patient lying supine, you flex the knee, rotate the tibia, and extend the knee. A click or pain along the joint line during this maneuver suggests a meniscal tear. Rotating the tibia externally targets the medial meniscus, while rotating it internally targets the lateral meniscus. This test is designed to provoke the tearing or pinching of a torn meniscus, which is why it’s the best choice for assessing knee instability related to a meniscal problem. The other tests focus on different structures. Lachman and anterior drawer tests evaluate anterior cruciate ligament stability, and the pivot shift test assesses rotary instability typically associated with ACL deficiency. They don’t specifically reproduce the mechanical symptoms of a torn meniscus, which is why they’re less suited for identifying knee instability due to meniscal pathology.

Knee instability from a meniscal issue shows up as mechanical symptoms in the joint that are best revealed when the knee is loaded and twisted. The McMurray test does exactly that: with the patient lying supine, you flex the knee, rotate the tibia, and extend the knee. A click or pain along the joint line during this maneuver suggests a meniscal tear. Rotating the tibia externally targets the medial meniscus, while rotating it internally targets the lateral meniscus. This test is designed to provoke the tearing or pinching of a torn meniscus, which is why it’s the best choice for assessing knee instability related to a meniscal problem.

The other tests focus on different structures. Lachman and anterior drawer tests evaluate anterior cruciate ligament stability, and the pivot shift test assesses rotary instability typically associated with ACL deficiency. They don’t specifically reproduce the mechanical symptoms of a torn meniscus, which is why they’re less suited for identifying knee instability due to meniscal pathology.