Eponyms are the Worst

Hampton hump: A shallow-wedge based opacity in the periphery of...

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:13:43 -0500

Hampton hump: A shallow-wedge based opacity in the periphery of the lung with its base at the pleural surface. Suggestive of pulmonary embolism.

Named for Aubrey Otis Hampton, who first described it in 1940.

Hutchinson’s teeth (notched incisors). Indicative of...

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:21:03 -0500

Hutchinson’s teeth (notched incisors). Indicative of congenital syphilis.

Prehn's Sign

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:40:40 -0500

The physical lifting of the testicles to relieve the pain of epididymitis, but not the pain caused by testicular torsion.

- Negative Prehn’s sign = no pain relief with lifting the affected testicle, which points towards testicular torsion which is a surgical emergency and must be relieved within six hours

- Positive Prehn’s sign indicates there is pain relief with lifting the affected testicle, which points towards epididymitis

Walker's sign

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:57:00 -0400

Walker’s sign. Indicative of Marfan’s syndrome.

“the distal phalange of the first and fifth fingers of the hand overlap when wrapped around the opposite wrist”

Steinberg sign

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:55:00 -0400

Steinberg sign / thumb sign

Clinical sign of Marfan syndrome

“the thumb projects beyond the ulnar border while completely opposed within the clenched hand”

Hinchey’s Classification of Diverticulosis (developed by EJ Hinchey): Clinical staging by...

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:14:33 -0400

Hinchey’s Classification of Diverticulosis (developed by EJ Hinchey):

Clinical staging by Hinchey’s classification is geared toward choosing the proper surgical procedure when diverticulitis is complicated, as follows:

Stage I disease - Small or confined pericolic or mesenteric abscess

Stage II disease - Large abscess, often confined to the pelvis

Stage III disease - Perforated diverticulitis causing generalized purulent peritonitis

Stage IV disease - Rupture of diverticula into the peritoneal cavity with fecal contamination causing generalized fecal peritonitis

Dunphy sign. Any movement, including coughing causing increased...

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 22:10:17 -0400

Dunphy sign.

Any movement, including coughing causing increased abdominal pain. Indicative of appendicitis.

Peyronie Disease In 1743, Francoise de La Peyronie described the...

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 02:10:00 -0400

Peyronie Disease

In 1743, Francoise de La Peyronie described the cases of 3 men with fibrous thickening of the penile shaft, painful erections, and penile curvature.

Mees lines. “Mees lines are white transverse striations of...

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 07:58:55 -0400

Mees lines.

“Mees lines are white transverse striations of the nails (striate leukonychiae) that appear 3 to 6 weeks after exposure As a nonspecific manifestation of nail matrix injury, Mees lines can be seen in a number of other conditions including thallium poisoning, chemotherapy, and a variety of systemic disorders.”

From Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice, 6th ed.

Terry’s nails, or half-and-half nails. The darker...

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:58:53 -0400

Terry’s nails, or half-and-half nails. The darker coloration of the distal nailbed and lighter almost white of the proximal nailbed.

May be indicative of either renal disease or liver disease.

Hamman-Rich syndrome

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 07:57:02 -0400

“Hamman-Rich syndrome, or acute interstitial pneumonitis (AIP), is a form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia characterized by inflammation of the lung interstitium.”

Originally described by Hamman and Rich in 1935.

A transverse depression of the nail plate that occurs several...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:37:57 -0400

A transverse depression of the nail plate that occurs several weeks after certain illnesses.

“Beau’s lines are transverse depressions of all of the nails that appear at the base of the lunula weeks after a stressful event has temporarily interrupted nail formation. The lines progress distally with normal nail growth and eventually disappear at the free edge. They develop in response to many diseases, such as syphilis, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, myocarditis, peripheral vascular disease, and zinc deficiency, and to illnesses accompanied by high fevers, such as scarlet fever, measles, mumps, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and pneumonia, and to chemotherapeutic agents.”

From Habif: Clinical Dermatology, 5th ed.

“Louis Virgil Hamman, M.D. (December 20, 1877 – April 28,...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:58:57 -0400

“Louis Virgil Hamman, M.D. (December 20, 1877 – April 28, 1946) was recognized as one of the great clinicians in his time.”

Lends his name to Hamman’s sign, Hamman’s syndrome, and Hamman-Rich syndrome.

The Lovibond angle. Used to define nail clubbing. “Nail...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:54:42 -0400

The Lovibond angle. Used to define nail clubbing.

“Nail clubbing occurs when the angle made by the proximal nail fold and nail plate is greater than 180 degrees, termed the Lovibond angle (shown). ”

Illustration of Simpson forceps

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 03:37:47 -0400

Illustration of Simpson forceps

Photo

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 03:36:47 -0400

Sir James Simpson. Designed the Simpson forceps, which...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 03:36:10 -0400

Sir James Simpson.

Designed the Simpson forceps, which accomodate the fetus’ cephalic curvature, and the maternal pelvic curvature.

Also discovered the anesthetic properties of chloroform.

McRoberts Maneuver. Useful in addressing shoulder...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 03:18:00 -0400

McRoberts Maneuver. Useful in addressing shoulder dystocia.

“Hyperflexion of maternal thighs against abdomen, usually involving two assistants, each of whom grasps a maternal leg.”

From Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics - Volume 34, Issue 3 (September 2007)

Gaskin maneuver, or Gaskin Position A delivery position, useful...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 01:25:00 -0400

Gaskin maneuver, or Gaskin Position

A delivery position, useful in shoulder dystocia. Named after Ina May Gaskin.

“The Gaskin position. The “all fours” position exploits the effects of gravity and increased space in the hollow of the sacrum to facilitate delivery of the posterior shoulder and arm.”

From Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics - Volume 34, Issue 3 (September 2007)

Gerdy’s tubercle. Gerdy’s tubercle is a lateral...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:59:00 -0400

Gerdy’s tubercle.

Gerdy’s tubercle is a lateral tubercle of the tibia, located where the fascia lata or iliotibial band inserts. It was named after French surgeon Pierre Nicolas Gerdy (1797–1856).

Used as a a landmark, along with the femoral condyle in injections to relieve the pain associated with iliotibial band syndrome.