First described by a Russian physician Vladimer Mihailovich Kernig in 1882, Kernig's sign is elicited with the patient in a supine position. The hip is flexed 90°, and the knee is flexed. A positive sign for meningitis occurs when extension of the knee elicits resistance or pain in the ...
If the patient experiences resistance, pain, or an inability to fully extend the knee without flexing the hip, Kernig's sign is considered positive. This can indicate irritation of the meninges and is suggestive of meningitis. It's important to note that while Kernig's sign can be a useful...