Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Speed bumps used to diagnose appendicitis?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/#commentsFiled under: ,



This... doesn't seem right, but just bear with this report from Wired. It seems as though driving over speed bumps can reveal those who are enduring acute appendicitis. This was a rumored thing among medical circles based purely on anecdotal data, but now there is an empirical study by the University of Oxford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK to back it up.

Apparently, when attempting to diagnose appendicitis, some doctors would ask if pain worsened when driving over speed bumps. It was not exact medicine, but according to Dr. Helen Ashdown of Oxford, it has been "as good as many other ways of assessing people with suspected appendicitis."

The Oxford study showed that the speed bump test was more helpful at ruling out appendicitis than confirming its diagnosis since other abdominal issues could also cause pain in those situations. So patients with acute appendicitis would experience pain going over a speed bump, but those who don't feel a jolt can be ruled out entirely as having acute appendicitis. That said, don't go driving over speed bumps expecting to perform your own diagnosis. Your results may vary!

Speed bumps used to diagnose appendicitis? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apendicitisautopiadoctorhealthuniversity of oxfordwiredwired.comThu, 27 Dec 2012 17:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409574/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/20409574/article-detail.xml 20409574 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/343538029749722db05fo-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/343538029749722db05fo-opt.jpg -1 2