Posterior draw test

With the knee flexed to approximately 80°, verification of complete relaxation of the hamstrings is achieved by hamstring palpation. With the foot in neutral rotation and stabilized, a firm, but gentle posterior translation force is applied to the proximal tibia stretching the PCL.

Application of a posterior translation force results in posterior subluxation of the tibia on the femur in a patient with a PCL-deficient knee. Grade the motion based on the amount of anterior translation :-

• Normal laxity is 0
• Grade 1: Less than 0.5 cm of translation
• Grade 2: 0.5-1.0 cm of translation
• Grade 3: 1.0-1.5 cm of translation

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