Trousseau sign is best described as what?

Trousseau sign is best described as what?

• A. Facial muscle twitch on tapping
• B. Carpal spasm when BP cuff inflated above systolic BP
• C. Ptosis with upward gaze
• D. Involuntary muscle jerks in limbs

Answer: (B)

Trousseau sign is a test for latent tetany due to hypocalcemia. Inflate a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm above the systolic pressure for several minutes; the resulting arm ischemia triggers a carpal spasm, with flexion of the wrist and fingers and extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints. This carpopedal spasm is the hallmark of Trousseau sign. The other findings describe different signs: facial muscle twitch on tapping is Chvostek sign, which reflects hypocalcemia but is elicited differently; ptosis with upward gaze is not related; and involuntary limb jerks describe other phenomena like myoclonus or seizures, not the ischemia-induced carpal spasm seen in Trousseau sign.

Trousseau sign is a test for latent tetany due to hypocalcemia. Inflate a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm above the systolic pressure for several minutes; the resulting arm ischemia triggers a carpal spasm, with flexion of the wrist and fingers and extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints. This carpopedal spasm is the hallmark of Trousseau sign.

The other findings describe different signs: facial muscle twitch on tapping is Chvostek sign, which reflects hypocalcemia but is elicited differently; ptosis with upward gaze is not related; and involuntary limb jerks describe other phenomena like myoclonus or seizures, not the ischemia-induced carpal spasm seen in Trousseau sign.