National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) DOT Practice Exam 2025 - Free DOT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Lasegue's sign is a clinical test used to assess the presence of lumbosacral radicular irritation, commonly associated with sciatica or lumbar disc herniation. This test involves having the patient lie supine while the examiner raises the patient's extended leg. If the patient experiences pain radiating down the leg when the leg is raised between a specific range of angles, it indicates irritation or compression of the nerve roots in the lumbosacral region.

This sign arises due to the tension that is placed on the sciatic nerve and its branches during the test, which may reproduce the patient's symptoms if there is an underlying issue affecting these structures. The test is a valuable tool for healthcare professionals to identify potential nerve root problems and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Other conditions listed, such as early peritonitis, benign vertigo, and amblyopia, do not relate to the assessment of lumbosacral radicular irritation, making them irrelevant in the context of Lasegue's sign.