Brudzinski's symptom pubis: description and clinical significance
Brudzinski's sign pubis, also known as the Brudzinski-Kernig sign, is one of the neurological signs used in clinical practice to diagnose various pathological conditions, primarily associated with inflammatory processes in the brain and spinal cord.
The symptom was first described by Polish neurologist Josef Brudzinski at the end of the 19th century. It is as follows: when passively lifting the patient’s straight leg while lying on his back, involuntary flexion of the other leg occurs at the knee and hip joints. Thus, passive movement of one leg leads to reflex flexion of the other. This symptom is observed in patients with inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord, such as meningitis, encephalitis, as well as in the presence of tumors and other lesions that cause irritation of the meninges.
Brudzinski-Kernig's sign is associated with a disruption of the normal muscle tone and reflexes that control the movement of the legs and hip joints. Inflammatory processes in the brain and its membranes cause irritation of nerve structures, which leads to changes in reflexes and a decrease in muscle tone. As a result, when you passively raise one leg, an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the other leg occurs.
Brudzinski's symptom pubis is an important element of a neurological examination when inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord are suspected. It is often used in combination with other neurological tests, such as Kernig and Babinski signs, to assess the extent of nervous system involvement and determine the need for additional diagnostic tests, such as CSF testing or neuroimaging.
It is important to note that Brudzinski's sign pubis is not specific to inflammatory diseases of the brain and can also be observed in other conditions, such as spinal injuries or severe back pain. Therefore, when interpreting test results, it is necessary to take into account all clinical data and make a differential diagnosis with other possible causes of symptoms.
In conclusion, Brudzinski's sign pubis is an important neurological sign that helps doctors diagnose inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord. Description of this symptom and its detection during neurological examination may serve as key elements in determining the need for additional diagnostic procedures and providing appropriate treatment to patients.