Brudzinski–Kernig Test

Used For

• Meningeal irritation, which may occur in conditions such as meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or meningeal carcinomatosis.

How to Perform

• When performed together, as sometimes described, the patient actively flexes the neck while raising the extended leg until pain occurs. 
• The pain is relieved when the knee is flexed.
• This active version mirrors the mechanics of the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, but it is done by the patient rather than the examiner.

Result

• Pain reproduced during neck flexion or leg elevation that diminishes with knee flexion indicates meningeal or dural irritation.