Background :
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major stabilizing structure of the knee, contributing to both rotational and anteroposterior stability. ACL injury is a significant knee joint pathology. Common clinical tests for diagnosis include the anterior drawer test, Lachman’s test, and pivot shift test. In this study, Lelli’s test was evaluated for detecting ACL tears and compared with MRI findings.
Methods :
This study included 100 patients attending the outpatient department of Orthopedics, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Bogura, from February 2022 to February 2023. Patients aged 20–60 years with symptoms of knee instability (giving way, locking, or pain) were included. Detailed clinical assessment including Lelli’s test was performed using a standard technique and recorded. All patients underwent MRI of the knee, and results were compared with clinical findings to assess the reliability of Lelli’s test as a screening tool for ACL injury.
Results :
The study included 100 cases with a mean age of 35 ± 9 years; the majority were male (98%). Right knee involvement was most common (80%). Sports activities were the leading cause of injury (85%), and the most common symptom was giving way (82%).
Lelli’s test demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.18% (CI 70.93–94.57) and specificity of 93.33% (CI 79.85–97.17).
Conclusion :
Lelli’s test is a simple clinical tool with high sensitivity and specificity and can be used as an effective screening test for evaluation of ACL injury in both acute and chronic cases.