title: [Physical diagnosis--pain elicited by percussion in the kidney area].
abstract: Percussion of the kidney as a diagnostic method was first described by John Benjamin Murphy (1857-1916). The test is rapidly elicited, but can cause severe pain. Considering acute pyelonephritis or acute renal colic, it is common practice to perform fist percussion of the kidney, yet its diagnostic value is unknown. Finnish study results in 1998 suggest that in acute renal colic loin tenderness and erythrocyturia are more significant signs than renal tenderness. There is no scientific evidence for determining renal tenderness in diagnosing urinary tract infections and urolithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Universiteit Maastricht, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, Postbus 616, 6200 MD Maastricht. r.houppermans@hetnet.nl
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Houppermans
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brueren
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history*; D010474:Percussion / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
vernacular_title: Fysische diagnostiek--slagpijn in de nierloge.