The KT-1000 arthrometer is a small device that’s strapped to the leg during knee examination. It’s used when the doctor thinks there may be a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The examiner pulls on the uninjured knee and the gauge on the KT
1000 shows how many millimeters of motion occur between the lower
leg bone (tibia) and the upper leg (femur). This motion is called
a drawer sign. The reading is compared between the injured
knee and the normal knee.
If there’s more than three millimeters difference between the
knees, the ACL is torn. It’s considered more accurate than an
MRI.
If you’d like to see a photo of this tool go to:
http://www.medmetric.com/kt1.htm or
http://www.ismoc.net/procedures/kt1000.html.