{"id":8571,"date":"2021-11-15T17:22:04","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T16:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=wiki&p=8571"},"modified":"2026-10-15T18:34:41","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T16:34:41","slug":"anterior-drawer-test","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/anterior-drawer-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Anterior Drawer Test"},"featured_media":8572,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"class_list":["post-8571","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"free_access":"","app_link":"","sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":8572,"background_image_alt_text":"Anterior Drawer Test"},"heading":"Anterior Drawer Test | ACL Ruptures","subheading":"Knee Assessment","content_editor":"","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check our shop","button_style":"button-five","button_internal_link":4646,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":null,"label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Free webinar","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Assessment E-Book","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-6","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Try Premium free","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":26802,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"

Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"

Anterior Drawer Test to Assess ACL Injuries<\/h2>\nThis test has a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 91%, according to a meta-analysis done by Benjaminse et al. (2006)<\/a>. These values are reported for a chronic situation, while the test performs way poorer in an acute situation.\n\nBefore you perform the test, it is first recommended to exclude a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in order to avoid false-positive results.\n
\n\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IdnBKv38EEQ[\/embed]\n\n<\/div>\nTo perform the anterior drawer test bring your patient's hip to 45 and your patient's knee to 90 degrees of flexion. You can fixate this position by gently sitting on the foot of your patient. Then palpate the joint line with your thumbs, and try to move the tibia anteriorly in an explosive movement. This test is positive if the tibia translates anteriorly more than six millimeters or if you experience a soft and mushy end feel.\n\nOther common orthopedic tests to assess for ACL ruptures are:\n