Brudziński’s Obscure Cheek Sign

Purpose of Brudziński’s obscure cheek sign: To determine if the patient has inflammation of the meninges (meningitis) (1). Patient position: Lying supine. Examiner position: Standing beside the bed, facing the patient. Procedure: With the patient lying supine, apply pressure on both cheeks of the patient, inferior to the zygomatic arch. Outcome: Brudziński’s sign is a sign of meningeal irritation. If meningeal irritation is present, this … Continue reading Brudziński’s Obscure Cheek Sign

Brudziński’s Reciprocal Contralateral Reflex Sign

Purpose of Brudziński’s Reciprocal Contralateral Reflex Sign: To determine if the patient has inflammation of the meninges (meningitis) (1). Patient position: Lying supine. Examiner position: Standing beside the bed, facing the patient. Procedure: First, place one of the patient’s legs (hip and knee joints) in flexion. A leg first placed in flexion causes a reflex, involuntary movement of extension after the passive flexion of the … Continue reading Brudziński’s Reciprocal Contralateral Reflex Sign

Anatomical explanation | Why are upper lumbar nerve roots less frequently affected by disc problems, while lower lumbar segments are more frequently involved?

The majority of symptomatic disc herniations are found at the lower two lumbar interspaces, that is, about 50% at L4–5 and 47% at L5-S1 (1). The remaining 3% are found at higher lumbar levels (1). A research study comparing patients with upper lumbar (L1–2 and L2–3) herniations to those with herniations at L3–4, L4–5, and L5-S1, showed that the patients with upper lumbar herniations had … Continue reading Anatomical explanation | Why are upper lumbar nerve roots less frequently affected by disc problems, while lower lumbar segments are more frequently involved?