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Brudziński's sign or a Brudziński sign is any of three medical signs, all of which may occur in meningitis or meningism.All three are named after Józef Brudziński. [1] In English, the name is often written without the diacritic (like many borrowed words) (Brudzinski) and is pronounced / b r uː ˈ dʒ ɪ n s k 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]
Meningism is a set of symptoms similar to those of meningitis but not caused by meningitis. [1] [3] [4] Whereas meningitis is inflammation of the meninges (membranes that cover the central nervous system), meningism is caused by nonmeningitic irritation of the meninges, usually associated with acute febrile illness, [1] [2] especially in children and adolescents. [2]
A positive Brudzinski's sign occurs when flexion of the neck causes involuntary flexion of the knee and hip. Although Kernig's sign and Brudzinski's sign are both commonly used to screen for meningitis, the sensitivity of these tests is limited. [17] [20] They do, however, have very good specificity for meningitis: the signs rarely occur in ...
Eponymous medical signs are those that are named after a person or persons, usually the physicians who first described them, but occasionally named after a famous patient. This list includes other eponymous entities of diagnostic significance; i.e. tests, reflexes, etc.
Woldemar Kernig, better known as Vladimir Mikhailovich Kernig (Latvian: Voldemārs Kernigs; Russian: Владимир Михайлович Керниг; 28 June 1840 – 18 April 1917) was a notable Russian and Baltic German internist and neurologist whose medical discoveries saved thousands of people with meningitis. He is best known for his ...
Today, his name is lent to four eponymous medical signs associated with reflexes observed in meningitis. Brudziński's neck sign: With the patient lying on his back and the neck is bent forward, reflective flexion of the knees take place. Brudziński's symphyseal sign: Pressure over symphysis pubis leads to knee, hip flexion and leg abduction.
Kernig and Brudzinski signs may be elucidated with specific physical exam maneuvers, and can help diagnose meningitis at the bedside. [15] Most importantly however, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected via lumbar puncture (also known as spinal tap).