What is the sensitivity and specificity of Homan's sign?

Homan's sign, which involves dorsiflexing the foot to elicit pain in the calf, has been shown to have low sensitivity and specificity in detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This means that a positive Homan's sign does not reliably indicate the presence of DVT, and a negative sign does not reliably rule it out.

The test has often been criticized for a high rate of false negatives, meaning many patients with DVT will not show a positive Homan's sign. Similarly, it suffers from false positives, showing pain in conditions unrelated to DVT, such as muscle strain or other venous issues. Therefore, while it may still be used as part of a broader clinical assessment, it is not a definitive diagnostic tool for DVT.

Consequently, the statement that Homan's sign is "not sensitive or specific" accurately reflects its limitations in clinical practice, whereas other approaches, such as ultrasound, are preferred for diagnosis.