Has anyone used cold to assess for Homan's?

Published

Hi.. new to site... learned something today from an older nurse. She apologized to the patient prior to doing it, but used the cold ice water jug against the bottom of his foot. According to her, if patient experienced a sharp shooting pain up the leg... from the application of the cold, it meant a positive Homan's. I've not EVER heard of this... can anyone verify? (yes... she washed the jug off after that).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

First off, I want to say, "Welcome"!

I never heard of this method as a way of assessing for Homan's. I wonder if anyone else has??

I'm moving this thread to the General Nursing Forum where more eyes can view this question (and hopefully receive responses) and where more members can say "hello"! :)

Ted

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wonder if the ice application just causes the patient to dorsiflex their foot anyway... thus causing the sharp pain... Hmmm... why not just do it the regular way if that's the case?

~Crystal

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I wonder if the ice application just causes the patient to dorsiflex their foot anyway... thus causing the sharp pain... Hmmm... why not just do it the regular way if that's the case?

~Crystal

Good point... LOL... :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion