Positive and negative Kernig's sign: semeiotics in meningitis

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 25, 2022

Kernig’s sign is one of the so-called ‘meningeal signs’, i.e. a group of signs used in neurological semeiotics to detect possible pathological processes in the meninges

The positivity of this sign helps the physician make a diagnosis of meningitis.

Kernig’s sign is, along with Brudzinski’s sign, Binda’s sign, spinal tap (lumbar puncture) and haemochrome (blood test), one of the main methods of diagnosing meningitis, but it is also used to diagnose other types of damage that cause irritation of the meninges.

It is named after the Russian physician Woldemar Kernig who identified it in the 1800s.

Positive Kernig’s sign with a seated patient

If the patient is sitting, he will not be able to keep his legs fully extended because this causes him intense pain.

Positive Kernig’s sign with patient lying down

The patient is lying supine.

The doctor tries to flex the whole limb over the pelvis, but the patient – due to the intense pain experienced – tends to flex the leg over the thigh.

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