Lever sign test for anterior cruciate ligament injuries: a diagnostic meta-analysis
The short answer
How good is the lever sign test at detecting an ACL tear?
The lever sign is a handy quick screen for ACL injury, but its accuracy varies, so it should support rather than replace imaging and the full exam.
Mixed pictureRead paper
Meta-analysisModerate evidence
Key points
- Pooled sensitivity and specificity are reasonable but inconsistent across studies.
- Works best inside a cluster of tests, not on its own.
- Useful pitchside, but confirm important calls with MRI.
Source
doi:10.1186/s13018-024-04635-w
Read the original paperClinically assessing this area? See the knee special tests.
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