The Lachman Test

     The Lachman test is an orthopedic test used for examining the anterior cruciate ligament.

    - the knee is flexed at 30 degrees

    - examiner pulls on the tibia to assess the amount of anterior motion of the tibia in comparison to the femur

    - an ACL-deficient knee will demonstrate increased forward translation of the tibia at the conclusion of the movement.

     To do this, lay the patient supine on an examination table. Put the patient's knee in about 20-30 degrees flexion,the examiner should place one hand behind the tibia and the other on the patient's thigh. It is important that the examiner's thumb be on the tibial tuberosity. On pulling anteriorly on the tibia, an intact ACL should prevent forward translational movement of the tibia on the femur. 

     This test can be done in an on-the-field evaluation in an acute injury setting, or in a clinical setting when a patient presents with knee pain. In either situation, ruling out fracture is important in the evaluation process. Also when evaluating the integrity of the ACL, it is important to test the integrity of the MCL, because this is a common ligament torn in an ACL injury as well.

On the day of your surgery

On the day of your surgery

• You will asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
• Take your drugs with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor  will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

After the Procedure

- you will probably go home the day of your surgery and wear a knee brace for the first 1 to 4 weeks. You also may need crutches for 1 to 4 weeks. Most people are allowed to move their knee right after surgery to help prevent stiffness. You may need medicine to manage your pain.

- but some doctor not provide you the medicine because they want  you to be in the naturally process.

- physical therapy can help many people regain motion and strength in their knee. Therapy can last 2 to 6 months.

- how soon you return to work will depend on the kind of work you do. It can be anywhere from a few days to a few months. A full return to activities and sports usually takes 4 to 6 months.

Outlook 

ACL reconstruction is usually very successful. Now, improvements in the surgery and in rehabilitation provide much better results. These improvements include less pain and stiffness, fewer complications with the surgery itself, and faster recovery time. Most people will have a stable knee that does not give way after ACL reconstruction.