The Anterior Drawer Test is used to assess ACL integrity, but this test is not that necessary to enquire if ACL is ruptured, as compared to tests like Lachman’s, Slocum’s and Lateral Pivot Shift, isn’t it?

All the tests you have mentioned can be used to assess ACL integrity including the possibility of a complete rupture. In fact, the Anterior Drawer’s Test is a favorite with sports Physiotherapists as this is usually the easiest and fastest test to carry out in the field to ascertain an ACL rupture.

Clinically, which test to use is often determined by the PT’s knowledge and experience. However, the trend towards Evidence Based Practice (EBP) means that these tests as well as most of the other clinical/diagnostic tests have been graded and ranked based on their sensitivity and specificity scores (usually in %). In practice, this means that PTs tend to favor tests with high sensitivity and specificity scores such as the Lateral Pivot Shift Test and Lachman’s Test over other tests such as the Anterior Drawers Test which typically tend to yield false positive results. Similarly, it is also for this reason that the Homan’s Test is presently no longer widely accepted as a clinical test for the presence of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) anymore.