Which test is used to assess ACL injury?

• A. Drawer sign
• B. Finkelstein's Test
• C. Neer's test
• D. Palpable fissure

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the ACL resists forward movement of the shin relative to the thigh. To evaluate this, clinicians perform the anterior drawer test (often called the Drawer sign). With the patient on their back and the knee bent about 90 degrees, the examiner stabilizes the foot and pulls the tibia forward. If the ACL is torn, the tibia will translate forward more than normal and the endpoint may be soft or absent, indicating ACL laxity. This directly tests the ligament’s primary stabilizing function.

The other tests are used for different conditions: Finkelstein’s test checks for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis in the wrist; Neer’s test screens for shoulder impingement; a palpable fissure is not a standard test for knee ACL status. So the anterior (drawer) test is the one that specifically assesses ACL integrity.