Physical Exam

Knee Posterior Drawer

🎬

Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient supine, the hip flexed to 45° and the knee flexed to 90°, stabilize the foot, grasp the proximal tibia with both hands, and push it backward relative to the femur. Compare both sides. A positive test is increased backward translation compared with the other knee.

How to Interpret

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

Composite posterior cruciate ligament examination positive (posterior drawer, posterior sag, and quadriceps active tests)

Rule in

Very helpfulDerived CI

Rule out

Very helpfulDerived CI

Evidence:Strong

References

Solomon DH, Simel DL, Bates DW, Katz JN, Schaffer JL. The rational clinical examination. Does this patient have a torn meniscus or ligament of the knee? Value of the physical examination. JAMA. 2001;286(13):1610-1620. doi:10.1001/jama.286.13.1610. PMID: 11585485.
Rubinstein RA Jr, Shelbourne KD, McCarroll JR, VanMeter CD, Rettig AC. The accuracy of the clinical examination in the setting of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1994;22(4):550-557. PMID: 7943523.
McGee S. Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025.

Research last updated September 10, 2026.