Lachman's Test is commonly used to assess which knee ligament integrity?

• A. Lachman's Test
• B. Anterior Drawer Test
• C. Pivot Shift
• D. Varus Stress

Answer: (A)

The Lachman test is used to assess the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) integrity. To perform it, have the patient lie on their back with the knee bent about 20–30 degrees. One hand stabilizes the femur just above the knee while the other wraps around the tibia below the joint line and gently pulls the tibia forward. In a healthy knee, the tibia has only a small amount of forward movement and a firm endpoint. If the ACL is torn, the tibia translates much more anteriorly and the end feel is soft or absent, indicating instability. This test is particularly reliable in acute ACL injuries because the knee position minimizes hamstring guarding and isolates the ACL more effectively than the full-extension position used by the Anterior Drawer test. The other tests address different aspects: a pivot shift evaluates rotational or combined laxity associated with ACL injury, while varus stress tests assess the lateral structures like the lateral collateral ligament and posterolateral corner.