Trousseau sign of latent tetany

Trousseau Sign of Latent Tetany

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Trousseau sign of latent tetany

The Trousseau Sign of Latent Tetany is a medical phenomenon named after Armand Trousseau, a 19th-century French physician. It is a clinical sign suggestive of latent tetany where carpopedal spasm is induced by occluding the blood supply to the arm for about 3 minutes. This is typically done by inflating a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm to above systolic pressure.

Overview

Tetany refers to a condition marked by intermittent muscular spasms, caused by malfunction of the parathyroid glands and a consequent deficiency of calcium. Latent tetany is a mild form of tetany, which is not evident without specific tests, such as the Trousseau sign.

Procedure

The Trousseau sign is elicited by inflating a blood pressure cuff on the patient's arm to about 20 mm Hg above their systolic blood pressure and leaving it in place for 3 minutes. The test is positive if the patient develops carpopedal spasm in the hand and fingers under the pressure cuff within 3 minutes.

Clinical Significance

The Trousseau sign is a main diagnostic tool for hypocalcemia, a condition where there are low calcium levels in the blood. It is also indicative of latent tetany. This sign is often present in patients with hypoparathyroidism, a condition where the body produces insufficient parathyroid hormone.

See Also

• Chvostek sign
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypoparathyroidism