What is the purpose of McMurray's test?

• A. To assess ligament stability.
• B. To assess ACL integrity.
• C. To assess cartilage wear.
• D. To assess meniscal tears.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that this test is used to detect tears in the knee’s meniscal cartilage. By flexing the knee, rotating the tibia, and then extending the knee, the maneuver places stress on the meniscal rims, especially the posterior horns. If a tear is present, this stress often reproduces pain, a popping or locking sensation, or a palpable click along the joint line. The direction of tibial rotation helps target which meniscus might be torn: external rotation stresses the medial meniscus, while internal rotation stresses the lateral meniscus. This makes the test particularly helpful for identifying meniscal injuries rather than ligament problems or cartilage wear elsewhere in the joint. It’s important to remember that a positive finding strongly suggests a meniscal tear, but a negative result doesn’t completely rule it out, and imaging or additional physical exams may still be needed.