A 13-year-old male basketball player presents with left lateral knee pain and a possible history of a popping sound during the last game. Which orthopedic test is most appropriate to evaluate for a meniscal injury?

A 13-year-old male basketball player presents with left lateral knee pain and a possible history of a popping sound during the last game. Which orthopedic test is most appropriate to evaluate for a meniscal injury?

• A. McMurray Test
• B. Varus Stress Test of the Knee
• C. Wilson
• D. Patellar Ballottement Test

Answer: (A)

The key idea is evaluating a suspected meniscal tear through a test that specifically stresses the menisci. The maneuver done by flexing the knee, then extending it while rotating the tibia places load on the meniscal tissue, so a torn meniscus may catch or reproduce a painful click along the joint line. In a 13-year-old basketball player with lateral knee pain and a popping sensation during play, this twisting and compression test is the most direct way to assess for a meniscal injury, making it the best choice. Tests aimed at other structures don’t target the menisci: a varus stress test checks the lateral collateral ligament, the Wilson test looks for osteochondritis dissecans related pain with tibial rotation, and the patellar ballottement test detects joint effusion rather than meniscal pathology.

The key idea is evaluating a suspected meniscal tear through a test that specifically stresses the menisci. The maneuver done by flexing the knee, then extending it while rotating the tibia places load on the meniscal tissue, so a torn meniscus may catch or reproduce a painful click along the joint line. In a 13-year-old basketball player with lateral knee pain and a popping sensation during play, this twisting and compression test is the most direct way to assess for a meniscal injury, making it the best choice.

Tests aimed at other structures don’t target the menisci: a varus stress test checks the lateral collateral ligament, the Wilson test looks for osteochondritis dissecans related pain with tibial rotation, and the patellar ballottement test detects joint effusion rather than meniscal pathology.