Asterixis

How to Perform

Ask the patient to hold both arms outstretched in front at about 90°, with the wrists dorsiflexed (hands up, as if stopping traffic) and the fingers spread, and to maintain this posture for at least 30 seconds while you observe the hands. A positive sign is brief, irregular lapses of the held posture, with sudden downward flexion at the wrists followed by a quick return (“flapping”).

How to Interpret