Mnemonics for special orthopedic tests

1) TEST: BRUDZINSKI 'S SIGN --

   *Description: Flexion of neck elicits reflexive flexion of knee.

   *Significance: suggests meningitis.

   * Mnemonic : a) Imagine as if the patient is in SKI position on the bed (neck and knee flexed) .
     b) The neck is stiff from the freezing in the snow.

2) DIX HALLPIKE MANEUVER --

   *Significance : suggests BPPV.

   *Mnemonic : Spike your drink and see the hall spin around you (vertigo) .

3) FINKELSTEINS 'S TEST :

  * Significance : for dequervain's tenosynovitis .

  *Mnemonic : a) Ask the patient to flick a coin of ten.
     b) The head's side of the coin has de (the) queen embossed on it.

4) HAWKIN'S TEST : 
   *Description : Internally rotate the shoulder to produce pain if rotator cuff pathology.
   *Mnemonic :Imagine a hawk flying in circles (rotate) , waiting to attack the shoulder of its prey.

5) LHERMITTE'S SIGN: 
   *Description : Passive forward flexion of head causes electric sensation down the spine.

   *Mnemonic : Imagine a hermit (sadhu)  giving his blessings (aashirwaad)  which induces some electric power down your body.

6) LACHMAN TEST:

   *Significance : indicates anterior cruciate ligament injury.

   *Mnemonic : Imagine anterior cruciate ligament to be a latch which keeps the tibia and femur locked to each other.

7) O'BRIEN TEST:
    *Description : With shoulder at 90 degrees flexion, instruct patient to point thumb at ground and resist downward force. Repeat with palm facing upwards.

  *Significance : Pain suggests labral tear.
   *Mnemonic : a) This is a story of O'Brien who worked as a labourer.
     b) He got thumbs down for his work.
     c) So he had to beg (with palms facing upwards) to make end's meet.

8) SPURLING TEST    

    *Significance : Tingling or pain along cervical nerve root suggests cervical radiculopathy.

    *Mnemonic :a) Spurling test is for spine.
     b)  Imagine if there are spurs formed in spine, they will compress the spinal cord causing radiculopathy.

9) McMURRAY'S TEST :

   *Significance : positive test suggests meniscal tear.

  * Mnemonic : a) Tennis players are very vulnerable to meniscal tear.
     b) Imagine Andy Murray to be suffering from meniscal tear.
     c) Also Mc Murray and meniscus both have M and C.

10) PHALEN 'S TEST :
 
   *Description : Instruct patient to bring dorsal aspect of hands together.  
    *Significance : Tingling or paresthesia in lateral 3.5 fingers suggests carpal tunnel syndrome.

    * Mnemonic : a) Imagine a felon who is handcuffed with dorsal aspect of his hands together.
   b)  The handcuffs are tight and compressing his median nerve causing tingling and numbness.

Submitted by Abuzar Asif