Kernig's sign is a test used in physical examination to look for evidence of irritation of the meninges. The test involves flexing the thighs at the hip, and the knees, at 90 degree angles, and assessing whether subsequent extension of the knee is painful (leading to resistance), in which case it is deemed positive.[1] This may indicate subarachnoid haemorrhage or meningitis.[2] Patients may also show opisthotonus—spasm of the whole body that leads to legs and head being bent back and body bowed forward.[3]
Kernig's sign
Positive Kernig's sign in cerebrospinal meningitis
Karl et al. noted much of the literature on Kernig's sign is old and they could find no randomised trials of it. They also noted low sensitivity of 5% meaning absence of Kernig's sign does not rule out meningitis, specificity however is 95% so if positive then meningitis is very likely. Kernig's should not be relied on when meningitis is suspected and a lumbar puncture should be performed. [4]
Nameedit
The test is named after Woldemar Kernig (1840–1917), a Russian neurologist.
^Kernig VM (1882). "Ein Krankheitssymptom der acuten Meningitis". St Petersb Med Wochensch. 7: 398.
^O'Connor, Simon; Talley, Nicholas Joseph (2001). Clinical Examination: A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. p. 363. ISBN0-632-05971-0.
^Shahade, Arati; De Jesus, Orlando (2020), "Opisthotonus", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644596, retrieved 2021-01-10
^Karl, Alyssa; Ali, Muhammad Ashar; Brandis, Dov (2022), "Kernig Sign", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29262005, retrieved 2022-02-17
January 01, 1970
kernig, sign, test, used, physical, examination, look, evidence, irritation, meninges, test, involves, flexing, thighs, knees, degree, angles, assessing, whether, subsequent, extension, knee, painful, leading, resistance, which, case, deemed, positive, this, i. Kernig s sign is a test used in physical examination to look for evidence of irritation of the meninges The test involves flexing the thighs at the hip and the knees at 90 degree angles and assessing whether subsequent extension of the knee is painful leading to resistance in which case it is deemed positive 1 This may indicate subarachnoid haemorrhage or meningitis 2 Patients may also show opisthotonus spasm of the whole body that leads to legs and head being bent back and body bowed forward 3 Kernig s signPositive Kernig s sign in cerebrospinal meningitisDifferential diagnosissubarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis Karl et al noted much of the literature on Kernig s sign is old and they could find no randomised trials of it They also noted low sensitivity of 5 meaning absence of Kernig s sign does not rule out meningitis specificity however is 95 so if positive then meningitis is very likely Kernig s should not be relied on when meningitis is suspected and a lumbar puncture should be performed 4 Name editThe test is named after Woldemar Kernig 1840 1917 a Russian neurologist See also editBrudzinski s signReferences edit Kernig VM 1882 Ein Krankheitssymptom der acuten Meningitis St Petersb Med Wochensch 7 398 O Connor Simon Talley Nicholas Joseph 2001 Clinical Examination A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis Cambridge MA Blackwell Publishers p 363 ISBN 0 632 05971 0 Shahade Arati De Jesus Orlando 2020 Opisthotonus StatPearls Treasure Island FL StatPearls Publishing PMID 32644596 retrieved 2021 01 10 Karl Alyssa Ali Muhammad Ashar Brandis Dov 2022 Kernig Sign StatPearls Treasure Island FL StatPearls Publishing PMID 29262005 retrieved 2022 02 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kernig 27s sign amp oldid 1203630705, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
