Physical Diagnosis - Posture as indication of diseases
Pancreatitis - Patients with pancreatitis will lie on one side with the legs and knees bent over. In other words, lie in fetal position.
Peritonitis - Patients with peritonitis lie very still. They try to avoid any movement that worsen the pain.
Intestinal Obstruction - Patients are quite restless in case of intestinal obstruction.
Renal abscess / perirenal abscess - Patients bend towards the site of the lesions
Meningitis - Patients lie on the side.Thighs flexed at the hips and neck extended.Leg bent at the knees.
Large pleural effusion - lie on the affected side with the purpose to maximize excursions of the affected side.
Small pleural effusion - lie on the unaffected side ( as direct pressure would otherwise worsen on the pleuritic pain.
Pericardial effusion - Patients sit up in bed and lean forward.Distention of the neck.
Tetralogy of Fallot - Patients assume a squatting position in order to resolve the cyanotic spells such as after exercise.
Psoas sign - Patient lie in supine.One knee flexed. Hip externally rotated.Indicate abnormality around the iliopsoas muscle. These include inflammed appendix, inflamed diverticulum and inflamed terminal ileum or muscle inflammation itself.
Pancreatitis - Patients with pancreatitis will lie on one side with the legs and knees bent over. In other words, lie in fetal position.
Peritonitis - Patients with peritonitis lie very still. They try to avoid any movement that worsen the pain.
Intestinal Obstruction - Patients are quite restless in case of intestinal obstruction.
Renal abscess / perirenal abscess - Patients bend towards the site of the lesions
Meningitis - Patients lie on the side.Thighs flexed at the hips and neck extended.Leg bent at the knees.
Large pleural effusion - lie on the affected side with the purpose to maximize excursions of the affected side.
Small pleural effusion - lie on the unaffected side ( as direct pressure would otherwise worsen on the pleuritic pain.
Pericardial effusion - Patients sit up in bed and lean forward.Distention of the neck.
Tetralogy of Fallot - Patients assume a squatting position in order to resolve the cyanotic spells such as after exercise.
Psoas sign - Patient lie in supine.One knee flexed. Hip externally rotated.Indicate abnormality around the iliopsoas muscle. These include inflammed appendix, inflamed diverticulum and inflamed terminal ileum or muscle inflammation itself.