Name a commonly used orthopedic special test for ACL integrity.

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Multiple Choice

Name a commonly used orthopedic special test for ACL integrity.

Explanation:
Assessing ACL integrity is best done with the Lachman test. With the knee flexed about 20 to 30 degrees, you stabilize the femur and gently pull the tibia forward. A noticeable forward movement of the tibia compared with the opposite knee, often with a soft or absent end feel, suggests an ACL rupture. This test is particularly reliable in acute injuries and is less hindered by hamstring guarding or swelling than the anterior drawer test, making it a preferred screening maneuver. The other tests probe different structures—McMurray and Apley compression focus on meniscal pathology, while the patellar apprehension test assesses patellofemoral instability.

Assessing ACL integrity is best done with the Lachman test. With the knee flexed about 20 to 30 degrees, you stabilize the femur and gently pull the tibia forward. A noticeable forward movement of the tibia compared with the opposite knee, often with a soft or absent end feel, suggests an ACL rupture. This test is particularly reliable in acute injuries and is less hindered by hamstring guarding or swelling than the anterior drawer test, making it a preferred screening maneuver. The other tests probe different structures—McMurray and Apley compression focus on meniscal pathology, while the patellar apprehension test assesses patellofemoral instability.

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