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Value of rebound tenderness in acute appendicitis
M Y Alshehri1, A Ibrahim, N Abuaisha
1Department of Surgery, King Saudi University, College of Medicine, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
East African Medical Journal
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Rebound tenderness is a highly sensitive and reliable clinical sign for diagnosing acute appendicitis. This study highlights its importance, offering valuable insights for medical professionals in clinical decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnostics
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.
- Accurate clinical diagnosis is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
- The diagnostic value of physical examination signs in appendicitis requires ongoing evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically compare the diagnostic accuracy of rebound tenderness with other physical signs in acute appendicitis.
- To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of rebound tenderness.
- To emphasize the clinical utility of rebound tenderness in diagnosing acute appendicitis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design.
- Inclusion of 123 randomly selected patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis.
- Statistical comparison of rebound tenderness, guarding, rigidity, and Rovsing's sign.
Main Results:
- Rebound tenderness demonstrated the highest sensitivity (94.7%) and negative predictive value (81.3%).
- The sign also showed the highest reliability (49.1%) and significant association with histological diagnosis (P < 0.05).
- Specificity and positive predictive value of rebound tenderness were comparable to other assessed physical signs.
Conclusions:
- This study underscores the significant role of rebound tenderness in the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
- Findings support the increased utilization of rebound tenderness as a key diagnostic indicator.
- Results contrast with some prior reports, emphasizing its diagnostic value.