RESUMO
PURPOSE: To report and assess the clinical symptoms and signs, which are the most reliable for diagnosis of acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 79 patients who were confirmed to have an ACL rupture by arthroscopy from January 1995 to December 1999. The T-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There is no statistical difference of frequency of the clinical symptoms and signs of the ACL ruptures. The most frequent clinical symptom is pain, and sign is hemarthrosis. The Lachman test is the most sensitive test of acute ACL rupture in our cases. CONCLUSION: To increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of ACL injury, repeated and accurate history taking and physical examination including above symptoms and signs are important.