A 28-year-old male presents with acute periumbilical pain that migrated over 12 hours to the right lower quadrant, accompanied by anorexia and low-grade fever. On examination, palpation of the left lower quadrant elicits pain in the right lower quadrant. What is the name of this classic physical sign?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Rovsing's sign

  1. Step 1: Pain elicited in the right lower quadrant during deep palpation of the left lower quadrant is known as Rovsing's sign.
  2. Step 2: It occurs due to peritoneal irritation and retrograde displacement of air in the colon stretching the inflamed cecum and appendix.
  3. Step 3: This is a classic diagnostic physical finding in acute appendicitis.
  4. Step 4: Identify Rovsing's sign.
Answer
Rovsing's sign.
Why not the others: 'Murphy's sign' is inspiratory arrest on deep right upper quadrant palpation seen in acute cholecystitis; 'Cullen's sign' is periumbilical ecchymosis indicating retroperitoneal hemorrhage; 'Grey Turner's sign' is flank ecchymosis.

Practise more General Surgery, Trauma and Critical Care.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Qatar Healthcare Practitioner Licensing Exam (QCHP / DHP) mock tests.

All General Surgery, Trauma and Critical Care questionsTake a mock test

More General Surgery, Trauma and Critical Care questions