What sign is described as carpal spasm after a BP cuff is applied for 3 minutes?

Trousseau's sign is a clinical manifestation that occurs when a blood pressure cuff is inflated around the arm for a few minutes and leads to carpal spasm. This sign typically indicates latent tetany associated with hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia, conditions that can lead to neuromuscular excitability.

When the cuff is applied, the temporary reduction in blood flow along with the slight deficiency of ions like calcium or magnesium can trigger this involuntary muscle contraction characterized by the wrist and fingers involuntarily curling inward. The significance of Trousseau's sign lies in its ability to alert healthcare providers to potential underlying electrolyte imbalances, often necessitating further evaluation of the patient's calcium levels and overall metabolic status.

In contrast, the other signs listed represent different neurological or muscular responses: Hoffman's sign involves flicking the distal phalanx of the middle finger to test for an upper motor neuron lesion; clonus is a series of involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations typically seen in neurological conditions; while the Babinski sign is a plantar reflex indicative of neurological function or damage. Each of these does not relate to the scenario of carpal spasm induced by the inflation of a blood pressure cuff.