Clinical Tests

Question 1

Rovsing’s sign:
What condition?
Explain the test.
Explain your findings.

Answer 1

Appendicitis

Pressure onto the LIF causes increased pain in the RIF.

Question 2

Murphy’s sign
For what condition?
How done?
Clinical findings?

Answer 2

Cholecystitis

Increased pain at inspiration when palpating the gall bladder (as it collides with the liver).

Question 3

Rigler’s sign
For what?
Done how?
Clinical signs

Answer 3

For bowel perforation
Radiological sign
See free air on both sides of the bowel: free air in places other than the bowel.

Question 4

kerr’s sign
For what?
Seen as what?
Why?

Answer 4

Ectopic pregnancy
Pain in the shoulder tips
Referred from blood irritating the diaphragm emphasizing the common embryology of the motor innervation of the diaphragm (C345) and the shoulder tips (C4)

Question 5

Trousseau’s sign

Answer 5

Has multiple contexts:
In abdominal disease:
Sign of malignancy; migratory thrombophlebitis ; tender clot felt under the skin
In calcium metabolism: hand clasped over to look like a bird’s bill; place a BP cuff for 3 minutes to occlude brachial artery. The decreased blood supply will induce spasm of the hand and wrist. AKA carpopedal spasm

Question 6

Chvostek’s sign
For what?
How?
See what?

Answer 6

Sign of hyper excitability (tetany) due to hypocalcaemia.
Tao the facial nerve.
Observe for ipsilateral facial twitch.