The squeeze test yields a positive result indicating injury to which area?

The squeeze test yields a positive result indicating injury to which area?

• A. Syndesmotic injury
• B. ACL tear
• C. MCL tear
• D. Osteoarthritis

Answer: (A)

The squeeze test targets the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, the ligaments uniting the tibia and fibula near the ankle. By compressing the mid-calf, you apply a force that stresses those syndesmotic ligaments; if they’re injured, this reproduces pain around the ankle where the syndesmosis sits, indicating a high ankle sprain or related syndesmotic injury. This maneuver isn’t meant to diagnose ACL tears, MCL injuries, or osteoarthritis, which are evaluated with knee-specific tests or imaging and by different clinical signs. So a positive squeeze test points to injury of the syndesmotic structures.

The squeeze test targets the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, the ligaments uniting the tibia and fibula near the ankle. By compressing the mid-calf, you apply a force that stresses those syndesmotic ligaments; if they’re injured, this reproduces pain around the ankle where the syndesmosis sits, indicating a high ankle sprain or related syndesmotic injury. This maneuver isn’t meant to diagnose ACL tears, MCL injuries, or osteoarthritis, which are evaluated with knee-specific tests or imaging and by different clinical signs. So a positive squeeze test points to injury of the syndesmotic structures.