Kernig's sign
| Kernig's sign | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Positive Kernig's sign in cerebrospinal meningitis | |
| Differential diagnosis | subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis |
Kernig's sign is a test used in physical examination to look for evidence of
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]
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
The test is named after Woldemar Kernig (1840–1917), a Russian neurologist.
See also
References
- ^ Kernig VM (1882). "Ein Krankheitssymptom der acuten Meningitis". St Petersb Med Wochensch. 7: 398.
- ISBN 0-632-05971-0.
- PMID 32644596, retrieved 2021-01-10
- PMID 29262005, retrieved 2022-02-17