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Lhermittes Sign
From WikiSM
Other Names
- Lhermitte's Sign
- Lhermitte's Phenomenon
- Barber Chair Phenomenon
- Lhermitte's Test
Purpose
- To evaluate the cause of the patients neck pain and radicular features
- Lhermitte's sign was first described by Marie and Chatelin in 1917 and named after Jean Lhermitte (need citation)
Description
Lhermitte's Sign
- Described as an electric shock sensation that occurs with flexion of the neck
- Sensation radiates down spine in legs, arm, trunk
Lhermitte's Test
- The patient is seated
- Examiner passively flexes patient’s neck
- Examiner simultaneously passively flexes one hip with leg extended
- Positive test
- Sharp pain down spine or limb
Pathology
- Cervical Spine Stenosis
- Cervical Cord Neurapraxia
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Multiple Sclerosis
Evidence
- Non-specific compressive myelopathy[1]
- Sensitivity: 3-17%
- Specificity: 97%
See Also
References
- ↑ Uchihara T, Furukawa T, Tsukagoshi H. Compression of brachial plexus as a diagnostic test of cervical cord lesion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1994;19:2170–3
Created by:
John Kiel on 12 April 2020 14:53:09
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Last edited:
16 April 2023 19:09:07
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