Allis'

Relaxation of the fascia between the crest of the ilium and the greater trochanter; a sign of femoral neck fracture.

Artisan's

A spasm of muscles exposed to prolonged work requiring delicate coordination; occurs only while performing that particular work. (also known as writer's cramp)

Ballance's

Resonances of the right flank when the patient lies on the left side; associated with splenic rupture.

Barre's Pyramidals

Inability of a patient who is paralyzed on the one side to remain in a flexed position. When the patient lies face down, with the legs flexed at the knee, the leg on the paralyzed side straightens.

Battle's

Brushing over the mastoid process; indicative of basal skull frature.

Bowditch'a

A combination of signs including decreased breath sounds at the left base, tympany over left chest, bowel sounds in left chest, cardiac dullness (displaced to the right) and immobile left hemithorax; indicative of traumatic herniation of the diaphragm.

Bull's eye

On a gauze pad, a drop of blood diffuses to form a circle of blood surrounded by an outer circle of clear fluid; associated with leaking cerebrospinal fluid from a basal skull fracture. (Also known as the "Halo test".)

Cleemann's

Creasing of the skin just above the patella; indicative of fracture of the femur.

Comolli's

Shortly after injury, a triangular swelling reproducing the shape of the scapula appears in the scapular region; associated with scapular fracture.

Coopernail's

Ecchymosis on the perineum and scrotum or labia; a sign of pelvic fracture.

Cullen's

A bluish discoloration of the skin around the umbilicus associated with intraperitoneal hemorrhage.

Drawer

In a suspected knee injury, instability and excessive anterior movement of the tibia; associated with a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Excessive posterior motion is associated with a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

Gunstock

Deformity in which the long axis of the extended forearm turns outwardly from the arm, caused by fracture of the elbow

Ice Rink

In cases of corneal abrasion, the cornea takes on the scarred appearance of an ice rink when viewed laterally.

Jump

An involuntary reaction to stimulation of a tender area or trigger point. May take the form of wincing or sudden jerking of the part being examined.

Kehr's

Severe pain in the left shoulder/scapular region; seen in some cases of splenic rupture

Langoria's

Relaxation of the extensor muscles of the thigh. A symptom of intracapsular fracture of the femur.

McMurry's

Occurrence of a cartilage click on manipulation of the knee, showing injury to the cartilage in the kneecap.

Nightshade

The patient describes field of vision as though a shade is being pulled down over his eyes; with images appearing only at the bottom of the visual field; a sign of retinal detachment.

Raccoon's

Ecchymosis, contusion or abrasion across lower abdomen; associated with trauma caused by seat belts.

Silver Fork

Deformity of the wrist and hand resembling curve of the back of a fork, indicative of distal radius and ulna fracture; also known as Colle's fracture.

Babinski's

Extension of the big toe upwards and fanning of the other toes when the sole of the foot is stroked; abnormal in children and adults, in whom it may indicate brain injury

Barre's

Retardation of the iris contraction; associated with mental deterioration

Cantelli's

Dissociation between the movements of the head and eyes, also known as "doll's eyes."

The eyes stay stationary as the head is moved.

Charcot's triad

The combination of nystagmus, intention tremor and scanning speech; frequently associated with multiple sclerosis.

Chvostek's

Cushing's

Hypertension, bradycardia, and abnormal breathing pattern; associated with increased intracranial

Echo

Repetition of closing word of a sentence; a sign of epilepsy or other brain condition.

Gordon's

Abnormal changes in the Babinski reflex. Compressing the calf muscles results in stretching of the great toe and fanning of the other toes. Indicates disease of childhood.

Hahn's

Persistent movement of the head from side to side in cereballar disease of the central nervous system.

Hoffmann's

An abnormal reflex brought about by sudden forceful striking of the nail of the index, middle or ring finger, resulting in a bending of the thumb and the middle and end joints of one of the other fingers; a possible sign of motor nerve disease