Accuracy of Lachman and Anterior Drawer Tests for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

  Background: The knee joint is prone to injury because of its complexity and weight-bearing function. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures happen in young and physically active population and can result in instability, meniscal tears, and articular cartilage damage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of Lachman and anterior drawer test in ACL injury in compare with arthroscopy.   Methods: In a descriptive, analytical study from ۲۰۰۹ to ۲۰۱۳, ۶۵۳ patients who were suspected to ACL rapture were entered the study. Statistical analysis was performed by the usage of SPSS ۱۹.۰. Multiple comparison procedure was performed for comparing data between clinical examination and arthroscopic findings and their relation with age and sex. Results: Mean age of patients was ۲۸.۳±۷.۵۸ years (range from ۱۶ to ۶۸ years). From ۴۲۸ patients, ۴۱.۲% (۱۷۵ patients) were between ۲۶ and ۳۵, ۳۸.۸% (۱۶۵ ones) between ۱۵ and ۲۵ and ۲۰% (۸۵ patients) over ۳۶ years. ۴۱۴ patients were male (۹۷.۲%) and ۱۲ were female (۲.۸%). Sensitivity of anterior drawer test was ۹۴.۴% and sensitivity of Lachman test was ۹۳.۵%. Conclusion: The diagnosis and decision to reconstruct ACL injury can be reliably made regard to the anterior drawer and Lachman tests result. The tests did not have privilege to each other. These test accuracy increased considerably under anesthesia especially in women.

Keywords:

Accuracy , Anterior drawer test , Lachman test