Test: Kernig Sign

Video Link

Background/Purpose

Procedure

With the patient supine the hip and knee is flexed by the examiner up to 90 degrees and then passively straightened at the knee. A positive Kernig's sign is when the patient experiences pain along the spinal cord and the pain limits passive extension of the knee. When the patient does not allow the examiner to do this bilaterally then meningitis is implicated. This test is not highly sensitive and is often done in conjunction with Brudzinski's sign.
Performed: Bilaterally

Dialog

Meningism

Criteria

• No pain is elicited down the spine with hip flexion and knee extension

Measurement

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LOINC Code

0

Scale/Grading

Pass/Fail