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Homans Sign

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Other Names

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Illustration of Homan's sign
  • Homan's Sign
  • Dorsiflexion sign
  • Homan's Sign Test
  • Dorsiflexion Sign
  • Calf Dorsiflexion Test
  • DVT Dorsiflexion Test
  • Calf Pain Dorsiflexion Sign

Purpose

  • Evaluate for Deep Vein Thrombosis as a cause of calf or posterior knee pain
  • First described by John Homans, an American Surgeon, in 1941 (need citation)

Description

  • The patient is supine, knee in full extension
  • Examiner passively but forcefully dorsiflexes the ankle, and then squeezes the calf
  • Positive test
    • Pain or tenderness in the calf

Pathology

Evidence

Deep Vein Thrombosis

  • Mcgee et al[1]
    • Sensitivity: 10-54%
    • Specificity: 39-89%

See Also

References

  1. ↑ McGee, Steven (2012). Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, USA: Saunders. pp. 472–473. ISBN 978-1-4377-2207-9
Created by:
John Kiel on 16 December 2020 23:12:32
Authors:
Last edited:
10 December 2025 19:56:37
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