Hip flexion-abduction to elicit asterixis in unresponsive patients.
Asterixis at the hip joints can be elicited by a simple diagnostic maneuver in which the hips are passively flexed and abducted about 60 to 90 degrees between the thighs. The test evoked asterixis in 8 of 10 patients who were stuporous or semicomatose because of hepatic encephalopathy. The asterixis seems to be provoked by the involuntary contraction of hip adductors against gravity.
D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods*