Test: Brudzinski Sign

Video Link

Background/Purpose

Procedure

Brudziński neck sign- with the patient supine, place one hand behind the patient’s head and places the other hand on the patient’s chest. Raise the patient’s head (with the hand behind the head) while the hand on the chest restrains the patient and prevents the patient from rising. Flexion of the patient’s lower extremities (hips and knees) is positive for nuchal rigidity that may be a result of meningitis. Brudzinski contralateral reflex sign- The patient’s hip and knee are passively flexed on one side; if the contralateral leg bends in reflex then a identical contralateral reflex is identified. If the contralateral leg extends as a reflex then the reciprocal contralateral reflex has occurred. This is usually called Kernig's sign.
Performed: Unilaterally

Dialog

Brudzinski neck sign

Criteria

• No flexion of the lower extremity with neck flexion
• No flexion or extension of the contralateral leg with hip and knee flexion

Measurement

0.00

LOINC Code

0

Scale/Grading

Pass/Fail