Hoffmann’s Sign/ Hoffmann’s Reflex / Digital Reflex / Snapping Reflex/ Jacobsen Sign / Trumner Sign

Execution:

  1. Patient is in standing or sitting position
  2. Support the patient’s hand so that it is completely relaxed with fingers partially flexed
  3. Grasp the patient’s middle finger proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint
  4. Flick the patient’s nail with your thumb

 

Positive Outcome: Quick adduction of patient’s thumb and flexion of finger

Study Reliability Sn Sp LR+ LR-
Grijalva et al. (2015) NA 59 49 1.16 0.84
Cook et al. (2009) ĸ=0.76 44 75 1.8 0.7
Annaswamy et al. (2012) intra-rater κ = 0.89, inter-rater κ=0.65 NA NA NA NA
Comment: Low predictive value to be relied upon alone