The Brudzinski sign is a classic neurological assessment used by nurses and healthcare professionals to help identify meningitis. This test looks for involuntary movements that occur when the meninges (the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) are inflamed.
How to Assess for the Brudzinski Sign
- Position the patient supine (lying flat on their back).
- Gently flex the neck toward the chest.
- Watch the patient’s lower body for their response.
A positive Brudzinski sign occurs when the patient’s hips and knees flex involuntarily in response to the neck movement. This reaction happens because flexing the neck stretches the irritated meninges, causing pain and triggering a protective reflex.
Demonstration on Brudzinski Sign
What a Positive Brudzinski Sign Indicates
A positive response is a clinical indicator of meningitis, which is inflammation of the meninges often caused by infection. When the meninges are irritated, movements that stretch these tissues (like neck flexion)can cause discomfort and reflexive movement of the lower limbs.
Memory Trick for Nursing Students
Here’s an easy way to remember it:
- B in Brudzinski stands for Bending.
- When you bend the neck, the patient bends their hips and knees, ending up in a “skiing” position….which is similar to how you say BrudzinSKI.
Think: “Brudzinski = Bending and Skiing.”
Quick Summary for Exams
- Position: Supine
- Action: Flex neck to chest
- Positive sign: Involuntary flexion of hips and knees
- Indicates: Meningeal irritation (meningitis)
- Mnemonic: Brudzinski → Bending → Skiing position
You may be interested in: Kernig Sign
References:
A.D.A.M., Inc. (2024, November 10). Brudzinski’s sign of meningitis. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19069.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 9). About bacterial meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/bacterial-meningitis.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 9). About viral meningitis. https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/viral-meningitis.html