Which knee test is used to evaluate meniscal injury and is commonly taught alongside McMurray?

• A. Lachman test
• B. Phalen test
• C. Tinel sign
• D. Apley grind test

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to provoke the meniscus under load to see if it hurts, which points to a meniscal tear. In the Apley grind test, the patient lies face down, the knee is flexed about 90 degrees, and you apply axial compression through the tibia while rotating the tibia internally and externally. If this produces pain or a grinding sensation at the joint line, it suggests meniscal pathology. This approach targets the meniscus directly by stressing it with compression and rotation, helping distinguish meniscal injury from ligament problems, which are better identified with laxity tests like Lachman.

This test is commonly taught alongside McMurray because both are classic bedside methods to assess meniscal injury, but they use different mechanics. McMurray combines knee flexion, extension, and tibial rotation with a valgus or varus stress to elicit a click or pain, whereas Apley grind uses compression under rotation to provoke a symptomatic grind. Together, they provide two complementary ways to detect meniscal tears in a practical exam setting.