What additional indication does a positive Bowstring Sign when pushing through the popliteal fossa represent?

What additional indication does a positive Bowstring Sign when pushing through the popliteal fossa represent?

• A. Hamstring strain
• B. Sciatic neuropathy or nerve root irritation
• C. Medial disc herniation
• D. Anterior cruciate ligament strain

Answer: (B)

A positive Bowstring Sign, which is assessed during a physical examination by compressing the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa and noting for reproducing symptoms, indicates sciatic neuropathy or nerve root irritation. This test is designed to assess the integrity of the sciatic nerve and its roots while also testing for possible neuropathies. If the test is positive, it suggests that there is irritation or compression possibly due to herniation, trauma, or other nerve-related issues affecting the lower extremity. In this context, a positive result aligns with indications of issues involving the sciatic nerve specifically, which can lead to atypical pain radiating down the leg. This would differ from symptoms related to conditions such as a hamstring strain, which would primarily present with localized pain in the posterior thigh, or an anterior cruciate ligament strain, where clinical findings would primarily involve knee instability and swelling. A medial disc herniation typically presents with specific radicular symptoms related to space-occupying lesions but does not conceptually overlap with the findings indicated by a positive Bowstring Sign as directly as sciatic nerve issues do.

A positive Bowstring Sign, which is assessed during a physical examination by compressing the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa and noting for reproducing symptoms, indicates sciatic neuropathy or nerve root irritation. This test is designed to assess the integrity of the sciatic nerve and its roots while also testing for possible neuropathies. If the test is positive, it suggests that there is irritation or compression possibly due to herniation, trauma, or other nerve-related issues affecting the lower extremity.

In this context, a positive result aligns with indications of issues involving the sciatic nerve specifically, which can lead to atypical pain radiating down the leg. This would differ from symptoms related to conditions such as a hamstring strain, which would primarily present with localized pain in the posterior thigh, or an anterior cruciate ligament strain, where clinical findings would primarily involve knee instability and swelling. A medial disc herniation typically presents with specific radicular symptoms related to space-occupying lesions but does not conceptually overlap with the findings indicated by a positive Bowstring Sign as directly as sciatic nerve issues do.