What it means
Named after Józef Brudziński, the Polish pediatrician who described it. With the client lying on their back, the examiner lifts the head to bend the neck toward the chest. The sign is positive if the hips and knees flex without the client meaning to. A positive sign points to irritation of the meninges, the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, as in meningitis.
For the nurse
It is usually checked with the Kernig sign and neck stiffness. Report a positive sign at once along with fever, headache or confusion, and follow the facility's isolation rules while the cause is found.
At a glance
| Also written | Brudzinski's sign, Brudzinski signs |
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Related terms
meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Kernig sign
Pain or resistance in the back of the thigh when the knee is straightened while the hip is bent at a right angle.