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Meningeal inflammation and irritation that elicits a protective reflex to prevent stretching of the inflamed and hypersensitive nerve roots, which is...
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Meningeal inflammation and irritation that elicits a protective reflex to prevent stretching of the inflamed and hypersensitive nerve roots, which is detectable clinically as neck stiffness or Kernig or Brudzinski signs. Originally, the Kernig signs were present when patients sat on the edge of a bed with their legs dangling and an attempt to extend the knee joint more than 135 degrees, or in severe cases more than 90 degrees, elicited spasm of the extremity that disappeared when the patients lay supine or stood up. Today, the maneuver is most commonly performed with the patient lying supine and the hip flexed at 90 degrees. A positive sign is present when extension of the knee from this position elicits resistance or pain in the lower back or posterior thigh.