What does a positive Murphy Sign indicate?

What does a positive Murphy Sign indicate?

• A. Dislocated shoulder
• B. Fractured wrist
• C. Dislocated lunate
• D. Arthritis in the hand

Answer: (C)

A positive Murphy Sign is a clinical test used primarily to assess the integrity of the lunate bone within the wrist. When this sign is positive, it indicates that the third metacarpal (the bone connected to the middle finger) is level with the second and fourth metacarpals when the patient makes a fist. This flattening suggests the possibility of a dislocated lunate. In this context, the positive Murphy Sign is a significant indicator of a lunate dislocation, as it demonstrates a change in the normal contour of the wrist. The other conditions listed do not align with the specific function of the Murphy Sign. For instance, a dislocated shoulder pertains to an injury in the shoulder region, and would not affect the alignment of the metacarpals, nor would it produce the symptoms examined by the Murphy Sign. A fractured wrist also does not specifically correlate with this sign; while a fracture may cause deformities or pain in the wrist, it would not typically necessitate examining the alignment of the metacarpals in the same manner as a lunate dislocation. Lastly, arthritis in the hand could result in various deformities and symptoms but does not specifically present with a positive Murphy Sign, as this sign is primarily focused on

A positive Murphy Sign is a clinical test used primarily to assess the integrity of the lunate bone within the wrist. When this sign is positive, it indicates that the third metacarpal (the bone connected to the middle finger) is level with the second and fourth metacarpals when the patient makes a fist. This flattening suggests the possibility of a dislocated lunate. In this context, the positive Murphy Sign is a significant indicator of a lunate dislocation, as it demonstrates a change in the normal contour of the wrist.

The other conditions listed do not align with the specific function of the Murphy Sign. For instance, a dislocated shoulder pertains to an injury in the shoulder region, and would not affect the alignment of the metacarpals, nor would it produce the symptoms examined by the Murphy Sign. A fractured wrist also does not specifically correlate with this sign; while a fracture may cause deformities or pain in the wrist, it would not typically necessitate examining the alignment of the metacarpals in the same manner as a lunate dislocation. Lastly, arthritis in the hand could result in various deformities and symptoms but does not specifically present with a positive Murphy Sign, as this sign is primarily focused on