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Achilles Squeeze test
For Achilles ten-don rupture. Squeezing the calf muscle
fails to produce plantar flexion of the
ankle joint. Also called Simmons Test,
Thompson test.
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Addis test
For determination of leg
length discrepancy. With patient in
prone position, flexing the knees to 90
degrees reveals the potential discrepancies
of both tibial and femoral
lengths.
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Adson’s maneuver
See under Adson’s test
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Adson’s test
For thoracic outlet syndrome.
With the patient in a sitting position,
his hands resting on thighs, the
examiner palpates both radial pulses as
the patient rapidly fills his lungs by deep
inspiration and, holding his breath,
hyperextends his neck and turns his head
toward the affected side. If the radial
pulse on that side is decidedly or completely
obliterated, the result is considered
positive. Also called Adson’s maneuver.
Allen test: For occlusion of radial or
ulnar artery. A method of determining
if radial and ulnar arteries communicate
through the two palmar arches.
Both arteries are occluded digitally by
making a fist repeatedly. First one artery
is released, then the other, to observe
pattern of capillary refill in the
hand. This can be performed with Doppler
placed on the digits during test.
The test is valuable prior to an invasive
procedure on the arteries at the wrist.
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Allis’ sign
Relaxation of the fascia
between the crest of the ilium and the
greater trochanter; a sign of fracture of
the neck of the femur.
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Amoss’ sign
In painful flexure of the
spine, the patient, when rising to a sitting
posture from lying in bed, does so
by supporting himself with his hands
placed far behind him in the bed.
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Anghelescu’s sign
Inability to bend the
spine while lying on the back so as to
rest on the head and heels alone, seen
in tuberculosis of the vertebrae.
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Anterior drawer sign
See under drawer sign.
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Anterior tibial sign
Involuntary
contraction of the tibialis anterior muscle
when the thigh is forcibly flexed on the
abdomen; seen in spastic paraplegia.
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Anvil test (hips)
For early hip joint
disease of diseased vertebrae. A closed fist
striking a blow to the sole of the foot
with leg extended produces pain in the
hip or vertebrae.
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Anvil test (neck)
For vertebral disorders.
A closed fist striking a blow to
the top of the head elicits pain in the
vertebra(e).
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Apley test
For differentiating ligamentous
from meniscal injury. Tibial rotation
on femur with traction or compression
with the patient prone and knee
flexed. Also called Apley sign.
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Axial loading
Putting pressure on top
of the head to identify nerve damage in
the neck. Also used to medically disprove
evidence of a low back problem.
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