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Posterior Drawer Test (Two Angles)

Posterior Drawer Test (lateral view)

Posterior Drawer Test (diagonal angle)

Name
Purpose
Description
Sensitivity, Specificity
Validity, Reliability
Likelihood Ratio +/-
Posterior Drawer Test
To test for Posterior cruciate ligament,
Medial collateral ligament, and
Posterior oblique ligament damage
The patient lies relaxed in the supine position.
The examiner passively flexes the knee more than 45 degrees while applying a varus stress, compression, and medial rotation of the tibia; in a “positive” knee, these movements cause subluxation of the medial tibial plateau posteriorly. The examiner then takes the knee into extension. At about 20 degrees to 40 degrees of flexion, the tibia shifts into the reduced position. [1]
 
Sensitivity
90%[2]
Specificity
99%2
 
+902
-0.102


[1] Magee DJ. Orthopedic Physical Assessment: 5th Edition. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier;2008.
[2] Rubinstein, et al. The accuracy of the clinical examination in the setting of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med.1994;22:550-557.