Knee Posterior Drawer Test

What is the "Knee Posterior Drawer Test" used for?

• To test the integrity of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

How to perform the "Knee Posterior Drawer Test"?

• The patient is supine and the knee to be tested is flexed to approximately 90 degrees.
• The examiner then sits on the toes of the tested extremity to help stabilize it.
• The examiner grasps the proximal lower leg, approximately at the tibial plateau or joint line with the thumbs placed on the tibial tuberosity.
• Then the examiner attempts to translate the lower leg posteriorly.

What is the positive result?

• The test is considered positive if there is a lack of end feel or excessive posterior translation.

Test Accuracy

• Sensitivity: 90 %
• Specificity: 99 %

References

• Knee Posterior Drawer Test | Orthofixar
• Orthobullets – Knee Physical Exam – Adult
• Rubinstein RA Jr, Shelbourne KD, McCarroll JR, VanMeter CD, Rettig AC. The accuracy of the clinical examination in the setting of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1994 Jul-Aug;22(4):550-7. doi: 10.1177/036354659402200419. PMID: 7943523.