In the Thessaly test, what indicates a meniscal tear on interpretation?

• A. No pain during the test.
• B. Pain in the ankle joint.
• C. Joint line pain or instability suggests meniscal tear.
• D. Pain worsened with rest.

Answer: (C)

The Thessaly test checks the menisci by having the patient stand on one leg, with the knee slightly flexed, and rotate the tibia to stress the meniscal tissue. A positive result is pain felt along the knee’s joint line, sometimes accompanied by a catching or unstable sensation, which indicates a meniscal tear. This joint-line pain or instability during the maneuver directly points to the damaged meniscal tissue.

The other signs don’t fit because pain at the ankle isn’t related to the knee’s meniscus, pain that only occurs at rest doesn’t reflect the provocative loading and rotation the test uses, and absence of pain during the test doesn’t suggest a tear.