Lelli Test

Lelli test : Clinical test for the diagnosis of Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture

Lelli test is carried out with patient in supine position, knee in full extension and heel touching the bed.
A clenched fist is placed beneath the proximal calf just distal to tibial tuberosity.
Gentle downwards pressure is applied over quadriceps tendon and the examiner looks to see if the heel ‘lifts off’ the bed.
The test is positive if there is no heel lift-off and indicates likely ACL disruption

Developed in 2005 to better assess the functional aspects of ACL disruption

Lelli test: Alessandro Lelli (2005)

Lelli A, Di Turi RP, Spenciner DB, Dòmini M. The “Lever Sign”: a new clinical test for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016 Sep;24(9):2794-7. doi: 10.1007/s00167-014-3490-7. Epub 2014 Dec 25. [PMID25536951]
Deveci A et al. The arthroscopical and radiological corelation of lever sign test for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Springerplus. 2015 Dec 30;4:830. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1628-9. eCollection 2015. [PMC4695483]
Thapa SS, Lamichhane AP, Mahara DP. Accuracy of Lelli Test For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear. Journal of Institute of Medicine, August, 2015, 37:2 91-94. [PDF]