Knee
ACL & PCL
Evidence: suggestive
Slocum Test (Rotatory Drawer) Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Anteromedial (AMRI) or Anterolateral (ALRI) Rotatory Instability.
- This is a modification of the Anterior Drawer Test.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine, knee flexed to 90°.
- AMRI Test: Rotate the foot externally 15° and pull the tibia anteriorly.
- ALRI Test: Rotate the foot internally 30° and pull the tibia anteriorly.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Excessive anterior translation on the side of rotation compared to the unaffected knee.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: Variable; often limited by hamstring guarding.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Slocum Test (Rotatory Drawer) should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Knee region, combining the Slocum Test (Rotatory Drawer) with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
