Macewen's sign
Encyclopedia
Macewen's sign is a sign used to help to diagnose hydrocephalus
(accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid
) and brain abscess
es. Tapping (percussion) the skull near the junction of the frontal
, temporal
and parietal
bones will produce a stronger resonant sound when either hydrocephalus or a brain abscess are present.
The sign was discovered and described by Sir William Macewen
(1848-1924), a surgeon and professor of the University of Glasgow
, Scotland
who also described Macewen's operation
for inguinal hernia
.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus , also known as "water in the brain," is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head,...
(accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
) and brain abscess
Abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue in which the pus resides due to an infectious process or other foreign materials...
es. Tapping (percussion) the skull near the junction of the frontal
Frontal bone
The frontal bone is a bone in the human skull that resembles a cockleshell in form, and consists of two portions:* a vertical portion, the squama frontalis, corresponding with the region of the forehead....
, temporal
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
and parietal
Parietal bone
The parietal bones are bones in the human skull which, when joined together, form the sides and roof of the cranium. Each bone is roughly quadrilateral in form, and has two surfaces, four borders, and four angles. It is named from the Latin pariet-, wall....
bones will produce a stronger resonant sound when either hydrocephalus or a brain abscess are present.
The sign was discovered and described by Sir William Macewen
William Macewen
Sir William Macewen, CB, FRS, was a Scottish surgeon. He was a pioneer in modern brain surgery and contributed to the development of bone graft surgery, the surgical treatment of hernia and of pneumonectomy .-Career:Macewen was born near Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute, Scotland in 1848 and studied...
(1848-1924), a surgeon and professor of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
who also described Macewen's operation
Macewen's operation
Macewen's operation is an operation for the cure of inguinal hernia, developed by Scottish surgeon Sir William Macewen .It is performed by closing the internal ring with a pad made of the hernial sac....
for inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal. They are very common , and their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical operations....
.