Brudzinski’s Sign:
Brudzinksi’s sign, is one of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis, which is an acute inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord as a source of protection, known collectively as the meninges. One of the key symptoms of meningitis is neck stiffness. Severe neck stiffness (nuchal rigidity) causes a patient’s hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed. It is found in patients with meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage and possibly encephalitis. Another useful physical test for diagnosing meningitis is called Kernig’s sign.
Brudzinksi’s maneuver:
- Place your hands behind the patient’s neck and lift the head flexing it towards the chest. If the meningitis is present, the maneuver may cause involuntary flexion of the patient’s hips and knees. This is a positive Brudzinksi’s sign
[expand title=”References for Brudzinski’s Sign:”] Sources:
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19069.htm
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO9PAPi-yus
FREE MEDICAL VIDEOS
Click on the button below for more Physical Examination Video Tutorials. Also, take advantage of many more FREE medical video tutorials.www.FreeMedicalVideos.com
Click on the Image below if you are having trouble with your Time Management: | Click on the Image below to view USMLE Step 2 CS Mnemonics: |
 | |