Fothergill's sign

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Fothergill's sign
Differential diagnosis Rectus sheath hematoma

Fothergill's sign is a medical sign for rectus sheath hematoma. It is positive when a mass in the rectus sheath does not move and can be felt during both flexion and relaxation of the rectus abdominis muscle. The mass may resonate (make an audible tone) on percussion (tapping) and usually does not cross the midline. The sign can help distinguish pain or hematoma in the abdominal wall, of which the rectus abdominis muscle and its sheath are a part, from pain inside the abdomen. This sign is especially useful in rural medicine. [1] [2] [3] [a]

It is named for English obstetrician William Edward Fothergill, who described features of rectus sheath hematomas in a 1926 article in the British Medical Journal entitled "Haematoma in the abdominal wall simulating pelvic new growth". [1] [3] [a]

References

  1. 1 2 Yale, Steven H.; Tekiner, Halil; Yale, Eileen S. (July 2020). "Fothergill and Carnett signs and rectus sheath hematoma". Journal of Rural Medicine. 15 (3): 130–131. doi:10.2185/jrm.2019-019. ISSN   1880-487X. PMC   7369406 . PMID   32704339.
  2. ↑ Yale, Steven H.; Tekiner, Halil; Yale, Eileen S. (2024-01-15). "Pseudobladder Sign: A Sign but Not Pseudosign". JMA Journal. 7 (1): 140–141. doi:10.31662/jmaj.2023-0128. ISSN   2433-3298. PMC   10834164 . PMID   38314404.
  3. 1 2 Fothergill, W. E. (1926-06-05). "Haematoma in the Abdominal Wall Simulating Pelvic New Growth". Br Med J. 1 (3413): 941–942. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.3413.941. ISSN   0007-1447. PMC   2524230 . PMID   20772580.

Notes

  1. 1 2 The second page of the article can be found at:
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