A client is admitted with possible appendicitis. Which finding by the nurse would be expected in assessment of this client?

  • a positive psoas sign
  • a positive Murphy’s sign
  • a positive Homan’s sign
  • a positive Chadwick’s sign
Number 1 is correct.
A positive psoas sign indicates inflammation of the psoas muscle associated with peritoneal inflammation or appendicitis. A positive Murphy’s sign indicates cholecystitis. A positive Homan’s sign may indicate a blood clot in one of the deep veins in the leg. Chadwick’s sign is a normal finding in pregnancy.