Kernig's Sign
Original Editor Oyemi Sillo
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Description[edit | edit source]
Kernig's sign is one of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis. Severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees.[1]
Purpose[edit | edit source]
An indicator of meningitis.[2]
Technique[3][edit | edit source]
• Patient lies supine with hips and knees flexed to 90 degrees
• Passively extend knees
• Positive sign is pain in hamstrings, or inability to completely extend legs.
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Karen E. Thomas, Rodrigo Hasbun, James Jekel, Vincent J. Quagliarello. The Diagnostic Accuracy of Kernig's Sign, Brudzinski's Sign, and Nuchal Rigidity in Adults with Suspected Meningitis. Clin Infect Dis. (2002) 35 (1): 46-52.
Manmohan Mehndiratta, Rajeev Nayak, Hitesh Garg, Munish Kumar, and Sanjay Pandey. Appraisal of Kernig's and Brudzinski's sign in meningitis. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012 Oct-Dec; 15(4): 287–288.
Thirunavukkarasu Arun Babu. Improved sensitivity of Kernig's and Brudzinski's sign in diagnosing meningitis in children. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2013 Jul-Sep; 16(3): 460–461.
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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References
[edit | edit source]
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19077.htm
- ↑ Introduction to Emergency Medicine edited by Elizabeth Mitchell, Ron Medzon. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005
- ↑ Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-surgical Nursing, Volume 1. edited by Suzanne C. O'Connell Smeltzer, Brenda G. Bare, Janice L. Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010
