Purpose: Sprain of ASTF or PSTF ligament
How to Perform: Patient’s leg is hanging off table, foot in neutral position. Examiner than tries to translate the fibular head anteriorly and posteriorly.
(+): Recreation of pain and/or increased laxity as fibular head is translated = Indicates sprain of ASTF and/or PSTF ligament
(-): No recreation of pain and/or increased laxity as fibular head is translated = Indicates no sprain of ASTF and/or PSTF ligament
Purpose: Fx
How to Perform: Patient is supine on the table, with the lower leg hanging off the end of the table. One hand is on the ankle and the other hand is by the tibial tuberosity. The examiner will push both hands with a downward force trying to “break the bone.
(+): Recreation of pain as downward force is applied to lower leg = indicates fx
(-): No recreation of pain as downward force is applied to lower leg = indicates no fx
Purpose: fx
How to Perform: Patient's leg is hanging off table. Starting at proximal tib/fib joint compressing both sides of lower leg working down to the ankle.
(+): Recreation of pain or point tenderness any time along tib/fib while compression is applied = indicates fx at site pain
(-): No recreation of pain or point tenderness while compression is applied = Indicates no fracture
Purpose: fx
How to Perform: Patient's leg is hanging off table. Starting at proximal tib/fib joint compressing both sides of lower leg working down to the ankle.
(+): Recreation of pain is felt along shaft of tibia or fibula as tap is applied to calcaneus = indicates fx
(-): No recreation of pain is felt along tibia or fibula when tap is applied to calcaneus = indicates no fx
Purpose: anterior compartment syndrome
How to Perform: Patient is sitting on table with leg resting extended and on table. Examiner than passively stretches the foot into plantar flexion.
(+): Recreation of pain as foot is passively stretched into PF = Indication of Ant. Compartment Syndrome
(-): No recreation of pain as foot is passively stretched into PF = Indicates no Ant. Compartment Syndrome
Purpose: Deep Vein Thrombosis
How to Perform: Patient is sitting on table with leg resting extended and on table. Examiner than passively places the foot into dorsiflexion.
(+): Severe calf muscle pain when foot is passively put in DF = Indicates DVT
(-): No severe calf muscle pain when foot is passively put in DF = Indicates no DVT