Question

A 14 year old male comes to the nurse practitioner following extreme knee pain after twisting his leg during a basketball game. The affected knee is significantly swollen and red and tender to the touch. The nurse practitioner preforms which of the following maneuvers is the best to rule out an anterior cruciate ligament damage.

a. Anterior drawer test
b. Finkelstein test
c. McMurrays test
d. Lachman's sign

Answer 1

To check for anterior cruciate ligament damage after a knee injury, the nurse practitioner would perform the Lachman's test, which is more accurate and less painful in swollen knees compared to other tests.

Step-by-step explanation:

To rule out damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) following a knee injury, the nurse practitioner is most likely to perform the Lachman's test. This test is preferred because it is less painful and can be more accurate than other tests when there is swelling in the knee, which can make the Anterior Drawer test difficult to interpret. During the Lachman's test, the knee is flexed at 20 to 30 degrees while one hand stabilizes the thigh and the other hand moves the tibia forward to assess the integrity of the ACL. A soft or mushy endpoint indicates a potential tear of the ACL.