Which physical examination test is commonly used to evaluate meniscal injury?

Which physical examination test is commonly used to evaluate meniscal injury?

• A. Lachman test
• B. Apley grind test
• C. McMurray test
• D. Thessaly test

Answer: (C)

Evaluating a suspected meniscal tear relies on provocative knee maneuvers that reproduce pain or a mechanical click when the meniscal tissue is caught between the joint surfaces. The classic test for this is a maneuver performed with the patient lying on their back: the knee is bent, then the tibia is rotated while the knee is extended. If a palpable click or reproducible pain occurs as you move into the straightened position, that suggests a meniscal tear. When you stress the medial meniscus, you place the tibia in external rotation and apply a valgus component as you extend; for the lateral meniscus, you rotate the tibia internally and apply a varus component. This selective maneuvering helps confirm meniscal pathology and can indicate which meniscus is injured. Other tests target different structures or have less specificity for tears. The Lachman maneuver assesses anterior cruciate ligament integrity. The Apley grind test combines compression and rotation to evaluate for meniscal damage but is less specific and more context-dependent. The Thessaly test is a dynamic, weight-bearing assessment that can detect meniscal tears but is less established as the sole diagnostic maneuver in many exam settings.

Evaluating a suspected meniscal tear relies on provocative knee maneuvers that reproduce pain or a mechanical click when the meniscal tissue is caught between the joint surfaces. The classic test for this is a maneuver performed with the patient lying on their back: the knee is bent, then the tibia is rotated while the knee is extended. If a palpable click or reproducible pain occurs as you move into the straightened position, that suggests a meniscal tear. When you stress the medial meniscus, you place the tibia in external rotation and apply a valgus component as you extend; for the lateral meniscus, you rotate the tibia internally and apply a varus component. This selective maneuvering helps confirm meniscal pathology and can indicate which meniscus is injured.

Other tests target different structures or have less specificity for tears. The Lachman maneuver assesses anterior cruciate ligament integrity. The Apley grind test combines compression and rotation to evaluate for meniscal damage but is less specific and more context-dependent. The Thessaly test is a dynamic, weight-bearing assessment that can detect meniscal tears but is less established as the sole diagnostic maneuver in many exam settings.