Posterior Drawer Test: Procedure, Purpose & Interpretation

The posterior cruciate ligament is a strong band of connective tissue in the knee that helps to hold the thighbone and shinbone together. The posterior drawer test is one of the few simple procedures doctors use to see if the ligament has been ruptured. In addition to being accurate, the posterior drawer test is also quick and relatively painless for the patient. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask the patient to lie down on her back.

• 2

  Draw the patient's knee up toward the hips until it's flexed at an 80-degree angle.

• 3

  Stabilize the patient's foot so that it's comfortable and secure.

• 4

  Make sure the patient's hamstrings are relaxed.

• 5

  Grasp the patient's knee by wrapping your hands around the back of it and placing your thumbs on the bony lump at the top of the shinbone.

• 6

  Apply gentle force to the front of the knee. If the shinbone moves backward more than usual, the posterior drawer test is positive and the patient's posterior cruciate ligament is damaged.

• 7

  Repeat Steps 5 and 6 as necessary to confirm the results of the test.