Fouchers Sign

Other Names

Foucher Sign
Foucher's Sign

Purpose

The right popliteal fossa. Left with muscles relaxed; right with resisted knee flexion. During resisted knee flexion the cyst (Cys) becomes harder, the semimembranosus (Sm) more prominent, and the cleft between Cys and Sm deeper.^[1]

To evaluate the popliteal fossa for the presence of a Bakers Cyst

Description

Examine the popliteal fossa in full knee extension and in flexion^[2]
Positive test
- Cyst often will be firm in full knee extension, soft when the knee is flexed
- Cyst compression between the medial head of the Gastrocnemius and Semimembranosus as they approximate each other and the joint capsule during knee extension
Useful to distinguish from other masses in the popliteal fossa
- Palpation of the mass is unaffected by the knee position
- Examples: popliteal artery aneurysms, ganglia, adventitial cysts, and tumors

Pathology

Bakers Cyst

Evidence

Unknown

References

↑ Canoso, J. J., et al. "Foucher's sign of the Baker's cyst." Annals of the rheumatic diseases 46.3 (1987): 228-232.
↑ Canoso JJ, Goldsmith MR, Gerzof SG, Wohlgethan JR. Foucher’s sign of the Baker’s cyst. Ann Rheum Dis. 1987;46:228-232.

Created by:

John Kiel on 16 December 2020 23:03:05

Authors:

John Kiel

Last edited:

5 April 2023 21:21:04

Category:

Clinical Exam

[1] Canoso, J. J., et al. "Foucher's sign of the Baker's cyst." Annals of the rheumatic diseases 46.3 (1987): 228-232.

[2] Canoso JJ, Goldsmith MR, Gerzof SG, Wohlgethan JR. Foucher’s sign of the Baker’s cyst. Ann Rheum Dis. 1987;46:228-232.

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