rhombergs sign????????

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rhombergs sign????????

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drkpp
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09/30/05 - 10:58 PM

does someone have a ckear concept of what the hell is this test all about?????? confused

is it for pos. column or vestibular system and how to perform it??

very confusing.

thanx

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jem23
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10/01/05 - 01:50 AM

well from my step 1 knowledge this is what i know..

the patient is asked to stand straight with feet together ..he is asked to close his eyes..if he sways he has a dorsal column lesion..he sways opposite to side of lesion..this is positive romberg sign..

the patient is then asked to open his eyes..the visual input is thus added to the cerebellum..and if the patient still sways..it indicates cerebellar damage..the lesion of the cerebellum is toward the side that the patient sways..

ARJ
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10/01/05 - 02:20 AM

rhombergs sign is a pure Dorsal Column sign there is nothing to do with cerebellum lesion. Because in cerebellum lesion the patient sways in present of visual input.

In absence of the visual stimuli the patient sways if there is a dorsal column involment thats a positive sign.

This is according to my clinical knowledge.

Any differences are welcomed

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ARJ
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10/01/05 - 02:22 AM

There is no need to do rhombergs if the patient sways with the opened eyes

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mani
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10/01/05 - 04:05 PM

jem23 is right that it differentiates between cerebellar and dorsal column ataxia

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drkpp
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10/01/05 - 04:11 PM

thank u guys

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drvic
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10/01/05 - 11:23 PM

ARJ is right. its only a test for dorsal column function, its got nothing to do with cerebellum at all. there are lots of other signs available to elicit in the patient if heshe has a cerebellar lesion - be it midline or hemispherical. of course with all the cerebellar tests you can get clues as to where is the cerebellar lesion - midline or hemispherical.

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Renegade
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10/02/05 - 03:35 PM

I was taught that Romberg's should be done in both ways (eyes open / shut) and that you could conclude on the affected pathway by doing so. In everyday practice, if the patient is unable to walk/stand with his eyes open, don't worry, I guess it's easy enough to realize... Should you like to know why there are so many «Rombergs» out there, start by realizing it's an old issue...

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kal_9980
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10/04/05 - 12:45 AM

ROMBERG`S SIGN is a test for loss of position sense(sensory ataxia),it is NOT a test of cerebellar function

the essential feature of this sign is patient is more unsteady with eyes closed than when they r open

(in cerebellar ataxia pt presents with irregular side to side series of errors in speed and direction of movements and this must be conducted with eyes open)

hope this clears ur doubt smiling face

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ARJ
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10/04/05 - 01:10 AM

#10

Thanks kal

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