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 other leg (2).

Outcome: Brudziński’s sign is a sign of meningeal irritation. If meningeal irritation is present, this passive manoeuvre causes involuntary movement of extension of the contralateral leg (2). This is a positive Brudzinski’s reciprocal contralateral reflex sign.

Reference:

1. Brudzinski J. Ueber die Kontralateralen Reflexe an den Unteren Extremitaeten bei Kindern. Wien Klin Wschr. 1908;21:255 – 61.
2. Mehndiratta M, Nayak R, Garg H, Kumar M, Pandey S. Appraisal of Kernig’s and Brudzinski’s sign in meningitis. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2012;15(4):287-8.