Homans Sign

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Are you routinely checking and documenting a Homan's sign on a normal lady partsl delivery patient? C-section?

I just graduated nursing school in May of 2006 and recieved my license in June of 2006. We were taught NEVER to do Homan sign. Based on evidence the use of Homan sign can actually dislodge clots.

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Specializes in Pediatrics (Burn ICU, CVICU).
I just graduated nursing school in May of 2006 and recieved my license in June of 2006. We were taught NEVER to do Homan sign. Based on evidence the use of Homan sign can actually dislodge clots.

Same here...

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I just heard about this tonight. I was wondering if either of you could give me some direction to find the research about all this. Thanks!

Same here...
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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I used to but had also read the study that psychomacia posted; I now ask pts if they are having calf pain, and assess their LE circulatory status. I don't do Homan's anymore. But that doesn't mean I'm not watching those pts (esp the obese c/s moms) like a hawk.

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Where can I find the research? Any suggestions or links?

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i was taught not to use homan assessment during my education: adn

the hospital i work at currently uses homans to assess. additionally b/c of the pt population i work w/almost everyone will use lovenox after discharge x 10 days, we routinuly will place an ivcf prior to surgery as well. i do alot of pt education re: dvt and pe

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.
I just graduated nursing school in May of 2006 and recieved my license in June of 2006. We were taught NEVER to do Homan sign. Based on evidence the use of Homan sign can actually dislodge clots.

I was taught this same thing back in 1994. I have been fighting this battle at work ever since. Personally, I don't do Homan's for that reason, though it is included on our assessment form. I simply put a * and then note that calves are non-tender, without redness and swelling. I've never been called on it, though I do occasionally bring it up in staff meetings. I've even given my manager some of the literature...I'm pretty sure it's just a sacred cow at this point.

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Specializes in MPCU.

"Homan sign (long taught as a useful clinical sign) is of no value in the diagnosis of DVT and should be omitted from the examination." Thank you psychomachia!

Non-specific and not sensitive.

Also if the dvt is proximal (at or proximal to the popliteal) you risk causing an embolism.

I guess tradition is hard to overcome.

My nursing school still teaches it and the professor said she would not change her lecture until the Journal of Nurse Education published an article on this.

Critical care nurse [0279-5442] Mathewson M yr:1983 vol:3 iss:4 pg:64 -65 I had found an article published in 1960 in JAMA, but I can not find that article now. Everyone except many nurses seem to know better.

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Does anyone have any more recent articles about Homans sign. I am a new grad and shared this with my co workers. They've never heard that Homans sign is no longer a valuable assessment and that it may be dangerous to perform a Homans sign. Please post any recent articles so I have literature to back me up!!! Thanks in advance

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Specializes in Critical Care.

In nursing school, here. They taught us Homan's sign and then told us never to use it as it is useless and can make the situation worse.

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Yes I was taught the same thing when I was in nursing school. I just graduated in May 2008 and received my license in July 2008. hypocaffeinemia Do you have the literature that shows that? I told my coworkers about that today and they have never heard that you are not to do Homans Sign anymore. They want literature to support what I said.

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Specializes in ob; nicu.

It only takes 30 seconds...Why not do it?

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