Homans' sign, which involves pain in the calf upon dorsiflexion of the foot, is traditionally taught as indicative of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, clinical studies have found that Homans' sign is neither sensitive nor specific for DVT, and reliance on this physical sign can lead to missed diagnoses or misdiagnoses. The American College of Chest Physicians does not recommend using Homans’ sign as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice due to its unreliability.
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What is Homans' sign, and how is it assessed?
What are the recommended methods for diagnosing DVT?
Why is Homans' sign considered unreliable?
This question's topic:
BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) /
Cardiovascular Emergencies
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