Which examination test is used to detect meniscal tears in the knee?

Which examination test is used to detect meniscal tears in the knee?

• A. Apley compression test
• B. Lachman test
• C. McMurray test
• D. Pivot-shift test

Answer: (A)

The key idea is testing the meniscus by loading and rotating the knee to provoke the torn tissue. In the Apley compression test, the patient lies face down with the knee bent to about 90 degrees. The examiner presses downward through the heel to compress the joint while rotating the tibia medially and laterally. A positive sign is joint-line pain that is reproduced with compression and relieved with distraction, indicating a meniscal tear. This maneuver directly stresses the meniscal tissue, making it the most specific choice among the options for detecting meniscal injuries. Other tests listed assess different structures—Lachman and pivot-shift gate ACL integrity, and McMurray also screens for meniscal injury but relies on a different maneuver and may be less straightforward in some exam settings.

The key idea is testing the meniscus by loading and rotating the knee to provoke the torn tissue. In the Apley compression test, the patient lies face down with the knee bent to about 90 degrees. The examiner presses downward through the heel to compress the joint while rotating the tibia medially and laterally. A positive sign is joint-line pain that is reproduced with compression and relieved with distraction, indicating a meniscal tear. This maneuver directly stresses the meniscal tissue, making it the most specific choice among the options for detecting meniscal injuries. Other tests listed assess different structures—Lachman and pivot-shift gate ACL integrity, and McMurray also screens for meniscal injury but relies on a different maneuver and may be less straightforward in some exam settings.