Renal Percussion
November 28th, 2019
Overview
How to Perform
- With the patient sitting, place one palm over the costovertebral angle and use the ulnar aspect of the other hand (in a fist) to gently percuss the kidneys.
Significance
- Flank tenderness to percussion is a relatively sensitive sign for renal pathology, especially pyelonephritis and perinephric abscess.
Causes of Flank Tenderness
- Infection - pyelonephritis, perinephric abscess
- Malignancy - renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma
- Renal infarction
- Trauma
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