Diagnosis
The pivot-shift test, anterior drawer test and the Lachman test are used during the clinical examination of suspected ACL injury. The ACL can also be visualized using a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI scan).
An ACL tear can present with a popping sound heard after impact, swelling after a couple of hours, severe pain when bending the knee, and buckling or locking of the knee during movement.
Though clinical examination in experienced hands is highly accurate, the diagnosis is usually confirmed by MRI, which has greatly lessened the need for diagnostic arthroscopy. MRI has a higher accuracy than clinical examination in detecting ACL tears when multiple ligaments are torn. This is of particular benefit if there is a coexisting posterolateral corner injury. Addressing the posterolateral corner injury at the time of ACL reconstruction will prevent premature graft failure.
Read more about this topic: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury