Dr. K's website has a new video!

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You may want to check this out. In the MEDIA section of

www.dssurgery.com Dr. K has a U-tube type video of what Trousseau's

Sign looks like. It has also been called " the claw " . This can

happen if you develop Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). Check out

the video.

Below I cut and pasted some information that explains what is being

done and what they are looking for. Combined with the Video I think

it can give you a good Idea of what is happening.

Trousseau's Sign:

Trousseau's sign occurs in patients with hypocalcaemia and results

from enhanced neuromuscular excitability.

How to elicit this sign:

1. Inform the patient about the procedure as it is very uncomfortable

and painful.

2. A blood pressure cuff is inflated to a pressure above the patients

systolic level.

3. This pressure has to be continued for several minutes.

4. Look for carpopedal spasm which involves the following

flexion at the wrist:

a. flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints

b. extension of the interphalangeal joints

c. adduction of the thumbs and fingers

The posture of the hand has been described as " Main d'accoucheur "

meaning obstetricians hand.

Hope you found this interesting and it never happens to you!

Holiday hugs

Jo