Bulge sign

System: Muscles, Bones & Joints Signs · All muscles, bones & joints signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

Milking fluid upward from the inner side of the knee and tapping the outer side makes a small ripple or bulge of fluid appear on the inner side.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with a small effusion (fluid collection) inside the knee joint.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.