[Pysical examination--rebound tenderness].
Rebound tenderness is generally practiced in the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. It is a test that inflicts much discomfort to the patient. Literature data derived from reports assessing the reliability of the diagnosis of acute appendicitis indicate a sensitivity of 0.78-0.91 (pooled: 0.91) and a specificity of 0.48-0.60 (pooled: 0.60) of rebound tenderness. It would appear that rebound tenderness is a test of little specificity (leading to many false positive results) and that it has very little additional value, particularly in the presence of local tenderness and/or rigidity in patients with acute abdominal pain.
Bemelman
W A
WA
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Heelkunde, Leiden.
Kievit
J
J
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis; D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis*