---
title: "Signs in Hypocalcemia | Chvostek Sign & Trousseau Sign"
description: "ENT notes on signs in Hypocalcemia - Chvostek Sign & Trousseau Sign."
source: "The ENT Resident"
author: "Dr. Mausumi Das"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/chvostek-trousseau-sign-hypocalcemia"
categories: ["Signs, Syndromes, Triads, and Compilation Lists in ENT", "Thyroid"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGuRWEyTWC4"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/chvostek-trousseau-sign-hypocalcemia.png"
---

# Signs in Hypocalcemia | Chvostek Sign & Trousseau Sign

ENT notes on signs in Hypocalcemia - Chvostek Sign & Trousseau Sign. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGuRWEyTWC4

## Signs in Hypocalcemia

Two classical signs are associated with **hypocalcemia**. In this post, we will discuss:

* Chvostek Sign
* Trousseau Sign

⭐ In ENT, these signs are commonly looked for in **post-thyroidectomy** patients, where the parathyroids may have been accidentally removed or injured.

---

### Chvostek Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Clinical Sign elicited by **tapping the facial nerve**.

#### 🔍 What is the Sign?

Chvostek Sign refers to **twitching of the facial muscles on tapping over the facial nerve**.

Seen in **Hypocalcemia**.

#### 🩺 How is it Elicited?

The examiner taps over the **facial nerve at the angle of the jaw, just in front of the tragus**.

A **positive sign** is:

✅ Twitching of the ipsilateral facial muscles at the corner of the lip, the nose and the eyelid

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

Reduced serum calcium levels

→ **Lowered threshold for nerve excitation**

→ Increased neuronal excitability

→ Facial nerve becomes **hyper-responsive** to even a low threshold stimulus

→ **Twitching of the facial muscles** on tapping

⭐ Indicates **increased neuromuscular excitability**.

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after František Chvostek, who first described the facial muscle twitching seen in hypocalcemia.

---

### Trousseau Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Clinical Sign elicited using a **Blood pressure cuff**.

#### 📌 Also Known As

👉 Obstetrician's Hand

#### 🔍 What is the Sign?

Trousseau Sign refers to a **painful carpopedal spasm induced by occluding the blood flow with a blood pressure cuff**.

Seen in **Hypocalcemia**.

#### 🩺 How is it Elicited?

1- A blood pressure cuff is applied to the arm

2- The cuff is inflated **above the systolic blood pressure**

3- Pressure is maintained for **3–5 minutes**

A **positive sign** is:

✅ Painful carpopedal spasm

> What are the features of the Carpopedal Spasm?

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

Reduced serum calcium levels

→ Lowered threshold for nerve excitation

→ Increased nerve and muscle excitability

Cuff inflation causes **ischemia**, which triggers the spasm, leading to **latent tetany**.

⭐ Indicates **neuromuscular irritability**.

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after Armand Trousseau, who described the carpopedal spasm seen in hypocalcemia.

> What is Trousseau Syndrome?

> Which is the more sensitive sign of hypocalcemia - Chvostek sign or Trosseau sign?

> What is the most common ENT cause of hypocalcemia?

> What are the complications of thyroidectomy?

---

### ⭐ High Yield Rapid Revision Table

| Sign | Elicited By | Finding | Indicates |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chvostek Sign | Tapping the facial nerve in front of the tragus | Twitching of ipsilateral facial muscles | Increased neuromuscular excitability |
| Trousseau Sign | BP cuff inflated above systolic pressure for 3–5 minutes | Painful carpopedal spasm (Obstetrician's hand) | Neuromuscular irritability, latent tetany |

---

### 🧠 Viva Pearls

* Chvostek Sign and Trousseau Sign are seen in hypocalcemia.
* Chvostek Sign is elicited by tapping over the facial nerve at the angle of the jaw, just in front of the tragus.
* Chvostek Sign is twitching of the ipsilateral facial muscles.
* Trousseau Sign is elicited by inflating a BP cuff above systolic pressure for 3–5 minutes.
* Trousseau Sign is a painful carpopedal spasm, also called obstetrician's hand.
* Both signs occur due to a lowered threshold for nerve excitation in hypocalcemia.

---

## About This Note

This free ENT note on Signs in Hypocalcemia | Chvostek Sign & Trousseau Sign was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture.

Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/chvostek-trousseau-sign-hypocalcemia

When citing or referencing this content, please credit The ENT Resident and link to the canonical page above.

## Related Notes by Category

- Signs, Syndromes, Triads, and Compilation Lists in ENT: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/signs-syndromes-triads-lists-in-ent.md
- Thyroid: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/thyroid.md

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