15/09/2017
A nice refresher for the Lever sign or Lelli test in diagnosing ACL tears. A good one to add in while performing the other standard tests.
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The Lever Sign For ACL Rupture
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A new clinical test for the diagnosis of ACL rupture is described:
The so-called βLever Signβ
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Lelli, et al., (2016), performed a prospective study on 4 groups of patients based on MRI findings and Clinical Phase.
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The hypothesis was the manual test would be diagnostic for both partial and complete tears of the ACL regardless of the elapsed time from injury.
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METHODS:
400 patients were evaluated and divided into 4, equal-sized groups:
Group A (acute phase with positive MRI for complete ACL rupture)
Group B (chronic phase with positive MRI for complete ACL rupture)
Group C (acute phase with positive MRI for partial ACL rupture)
Group D (chronic phase with positive MRI for partial ACL rupture). .
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Clinical assessment was performed with:
Lachman test
Anterior Drawer test
Pivot Shift test
Lever Sign test
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[A]
The Lever Sign test involves placing a fulcrum under the patientβs calf and applying a downward force to the quadriceps.
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Depending on whether the ACL is intact or not:
the patientβs heel will either
[B]
rise off of the examination table .
[C]
or remain down. .
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Additionally, the Lever Sign test was performed on the un-injured leg of all 400 patients as a control.
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RESULTS:
All tests were nearly 100 % sensitive for patients with chronic, complete tears of the ACL. .
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However, for patients with acute, partial tears, the sensitivity was much lower for:
Lachman test (0.42)
Anterior Drawer test (0.29)
Pivot Shift test (0.11)
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But sensitivity for the Lever Sign test was (1.00) for patients with acute, partial tears
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CONCLUSIONS:
In general, chronic, complete tears were most successfully diagnosed but acute, partial tears were least successfully diagnosed. .
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The Lever Sign test is more sensitive to correctly diagnosing both acute and partial tears of the ACL compared with other common manual tests. .
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CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Some ACL ruptures may be more accurately diagnosed with the Lever Sign
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SOURCE:
Lelli, et al. 2016. The βLever Signβ: a new clinical test for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture.