A hollow or cracked pot sound is heard during percussion of skull is called?

NORCERT 8 Mains-2025

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCERT 8 Mains-2025

Explanation

Macewen's sign is the specific clinical term for a resonant, 'cracked pot' sound heard upon percussion of the skull.
This sound is produced because increased intracranial pressure (ICP) has caused the separation of the cranial sutures in an infant.
It is a key diagnostic sign for conditions like hydrocephalus, which leads to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and raised ICP.
The sound is best elicited by tapping the skull near the junction of the frontal, temporal, and parietal bones.

Option A: Chadwick's sign is related to obstetrics, not neurology. It is a sign of early pregnancy.
Option C: Sunsetting sign is a visual finding, not an auditory one. It describes the appearance of the eyes, not a sound from the skull.
Option D: Babinski sign is a neurological reflex involving the foot and toes, not a sound produced by percussing the head.

Visual 1: Diagram: An illustration showing a healthcare provider percussing an infant's skull at the junction of the frontal, temporal, and parietal bones to elicit Macewen's sign.
Visual 2: Illustration: A comparative visual showing a normal infant's eyes versus the 'sunsetting sign' (downward gaze with visible sclera above the iris) characteristic of hydrocephalus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure in infants as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing Macewen's sign is a critical nursing assessment skill for early detection of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in infants.
Early identification of signs like Macewen's, sunsetting eyes, and a bulging fontanelle allows for prompt medical intervention (e.g., CSF shunting), which can prevent irreversible brain damage and developmental delays.
What if? If Macewen's sign is positive and the infant also has a high-pitched cry and is irritable, the nurse should immediately escalate care and report the findings to the physician, as this combination strongly suggests rapidly increasing ICP requiring urgent management.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key descriptive phrase in the question: 'hollow or cracked pot sound' and the action 'percussion of skull'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowing the specific medical term (eponym) for this clinical finding.
Review the options and categorize them by the body system or condition they relate to.
Option A (Chadwick's) is gynecological. Option B (Macewen's) is related to the skull. Option C (Sunsetting) is ocular. Option D (Babinski) is a foot reflex.
Based on the categorization, Macewen's sign is the only option that describes a finding related to the skull itself.
Confirm the match: Macewen's sign is the 'cracked pot' sound. This confirms it as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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