Probably one of the most embarrassing times in medical training is trying to get a good reflex out of someone. I use to use a Taylor reflex hammer all the time (the one that looks like a tomahawk), but always found it to be weighted wrong. I felt like most of the mass was in the pointed part, and that the whole thing was too short.
I had followed a neurologist for a clinical neurology session and found out later on during the rotation, that nearly every neurologist uses the Queen's Square hammer. Since reflexes are so important in the physical exam, I figured this is what I should get:
Queen's Square Reflex Hammer
I've had a lot less trouble getting good reflexes with this same exact hammer. The longer handle means you'll be able to hit with more power, and you can just reach across to get the other patellar reflex. Probably 90% of the mass is in the head of the hammer, which is what you need, and you don't need to swing it as hard as a Taylor.
Personally, I think Taylor hammer's are a waste of money and time, because you'll be spending longer than you need to to elicit reflexes. The plastic one will be fine and I actually prefer it to a metal handle, because the slight flexibility in the handle makes it feel less awkward when you swing the hammer.
It's a long hammer, so what I did was just thread the handle through the button holes of my white coat. As usual, there's also a pediatric size for newborns. Anyway, give it a try!
No comments:
Post a Comment