Скачать или смотреть This is a positive hoffman’s sign!

A positive Hoffman sign is a clinical test used to assess the presence of upper motor neuron lesions, which can indicate underlying spinal cord pathology.

How to perform?
1. The patient’s hand is relaxed, with the wrist in a neutral position.
2. The examiner holds the patient’s middle finger and flicks the nail or the distal phalanx.
3. A positive response is observed if there is an involuntary flexion of the thumb and/or index finger.

Interpretation and Significance

Positive Hoffman Sign: indicates hyperreflexia, which is a sign of upper motor neuron dysfunction. This can suggest the presence of spinal cord compression, cervical myelopathy, or other central nervous system lesions.

Pathology: Conditions that might cause a positive Hoffman sign include cervical spondylotic myelopathy, spinal cord tumors, multiple sclerosis, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

For a spine surgeon, a positive Hoffman sign is a significant finding that warrants further investigation and potentially indicates the need for intervention to address spinal cord pathology. It is an important component of the neurological examination and helps guide the diagnostic and treatment process for conditions affecting the cervical spine and central nervous system.

This patient’s cervical MRI showed severe spinal cord compression with myelomalacia.