Hoffmann sign

What it means

A Hoffmann test is performed by flicking the fingernail of the long finger, from dorsal to volar, on each hand while the hand was supported by the examiner's hand. The test was done with the neck in the neutral position and then with the neck maximally forward flexed. Any flexion of the ipsilateral thumb and/or index finger was interpreted as a positive test.

The Hoffmann sign is regarded to be test for disease of the corticospinal pathways.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Hoffmann's sign