What does the anterior drawer test for the ankle assess?

What does the anterior drawer test for the ankle assess?

• A. Detects posterior displacement of the talus on the tibia
• B. Detects excessive anterior displacement of the talus on the tibia
• C. Tests for the calcaneofibular ligament
• D. Is performed with the patient standing

Answer: (B)

The thing this test checks is the forward stability of the ankle: how far the talus can move anteriorly relative to the tibia. When the anterior talofibular ligament is torn or lax, it no longer restrains that forward translation, so the talus slides forward excessively under a forward force. That’s why the correct description is detecting excessive anterior displacement of the talus on the tibia. The other ideas don’t fit: posterior displacement would involve motion the opposite way, the calcaneofibular ligament is most involved in inversion stability rather than forward translation, and this test is not performed with the patient standing.

The thing this test checks is the forward stability of the ankle: how far the talus can move anteriorly relative to the tibia. When the anterior talofibular ligament is torn or lax, it no longer restrains that forward translation, so the talus slides forward excessively under a forward force. That’s why the correct description is detecting excessive anterior displacement of the talus on the tibia. The other ideas don’t fit: posterior displacement would involve motion the opposite way, the calcaneofibular ligament is most involved in inversion stability rather than forward translation, and this test is not performed with the patient standing.