Homan's sign reliability and description: which statement is true?

• A. Involves dorsiflexion of the foot and is only about 50% accurate
• B. A definitive test for DVT
• C. A radiologic imaging sign
• D. A diagnostic blood test

Answer: (A)

Homan's sign is a clinical test where the foot is passively dorsiflexed (the ankle flexed upward toward the shin) with the leg extended; if this maneuver provokes calf pain, it’s considered a positive sign. It historically suggested a deep vein thrombosis, but its usefulness is limited. The key point is that it’s not very reliable—roughly half of true DVT cases show this sign, and many people without DVT may experience calf discomfort from other causes during dorsiflexion. Because of this limited accuracy, it cannot be considered a definitive test for DVT, and it’s not a radiologic imaging sign or a diagnostic blood test. In practice, diagnosis relies on imaging such as duplex ultrasonography, with D-dimer testing used to help assess probability rather than to diagnose on its own. So the statement that it involves dorsiflexion of the foot and is only about 50% accurate best captures its description and its limited reliability.