---
title: "Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign | Signs of Meningitis"
description: "ENT notes on Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign."
source: "The ENT Resident"
author: "Dr. Mausumi Das"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/kernig-sign-brudzinski-sign-meningitis-signs"
categories: ["Signs, Syndromes, Triads, and Compilation Lists in ENT", "Otology"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bErVtnLB6D4"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/kernig-sign-brudzinski-sign-meningitis-signs.png"
---

# Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign | Signs of Meningitis

ENT notes on Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bErVtnLB6D4

## Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign - Signs in Meningitis

Meningitis is one of the common intracranial complications of chronic otitis media, and may also complicate acute otitis media.

Recognizing it changes the case into a **complicated otitis media**, and alters the line of treatment.

In this post, we will discuss the two signs of **meningeal irritation**:

* Kernig Sign
* Brudzinski Sign

> Which is the most common intracranial complication of Chronic otitis media?

> Classify the complications of CSOM.

---

### Kernig Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Clinical Sign

A sign of **Meningeal irritation**.

#### 🩺 How is it Elicited?

1- The patient lies **supine**

2- The **hip is flexed to 90 degrees**

3- The examiner attempts to **extend the knee**

⭐ In a normal patient, the knee can be extended fully.

A **positive sign** is:

✅ Pain in the lower back

✅ Resistance to the movement

✅ Complete inability to extend the knee

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

With the hip flexed, extension of the knee **stretches the sciatic nerve and the inflamed meninges**.

This causes **pain and spasm**, preventing full knee extension.

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after Vladimir Kernig, who described this sign in patients with meningitis.

#### 💡 Mnemonic

**KE** from **KE**rnig

👉 **K**nee **E**xtension is painful

> What are the CSF findings in bacterial meningitis?

---

### Brudzinski Sign

#### 📌 Type of Sign

👉 Clinical Sign

A sign of **Meningeal irritation**.

#### 🩺 How is it Elicited?

1- The patient lies **supine**

2- The examiner gently **flexes the neck forward**

A **positive sign** is:

✅ Involuntary flexion of the hip and knee

#### 🧠 Why Does it Occur?

Neck flexion **stretches the inflamed meninges**.

To reduce the stretch and the pain, the patient **reflexly flexes the hip and knee**.

#### 👨‍⚕️ Eponym

Named after Jozef Brudzinski, a Polish paediatrician, who described this sign in patients with meningitis.

#### 💡 Mnemonic

**B** from **B**rudzinski

👉 On flexing the neck, **B**oth hip and knee are flexed

---

### ⭐ High Yield Rapid Revision Table

| Sign | Elicited By | Positive Finding | Mnemonic |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kernig Sign | Extending the knee with the hip flexed to 90 degrees | Pain, resistance or inability to extend the knee | **KE**: **K***nee **E**xtension is painful |
| Brudzinski Sign | Flexing the neck forward | Involuntary hip and knee flexion | **B**: **B**oth hip and knee flexed |

---

### 🧠 Viva Pearls

* Kernig sign and Brudzinski sign are signs of meningeal irritation.
* Meningitis is the most common intracranial complication of chronic otitis media.
* Kernig sign is elicited by extending the knee with the hip flexed to 90 degrees.
* Kernig sign occurs because knee extension stretches the sciatic nerve and the inflamed meninges.
* Kernig sign is named after Vladimir Kernig.
* Brudzinski sign is involuntary flexion of the hip and knee on flexing the neck.
* Brudzinski sign is named after Jozef Brudzinski, a Polish paediatrician.

---

## About This Note

This free ENT note on Kernig Sign & Brudzinski Sign | Signs of Meningitis 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/kernig-sign-brudzinski-sign-meningitis-signs

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
- Otology: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/otology.md

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