The "Throckmorton Sign" Explained

We are an immature bunch for the most part. It turns out that with Xrays of the male pelvis or hip region that the penis can often be seen hanging left or right. Legend, not research, tells that the side the penis points to is the side of the fracture or ‘lesion’ as we say.

Further, a dude with a Throckmorton sign on the left who actually has a fracture or significant finding on the left side is said to have a “positive Throckmorton sign”. If the penis points away from the injured side then it is called a “reverse Throckmorton sign”. Also, if there is no injury to the patient then you have a “false-positive Throckmorton sign”. This, of course, allows us to talk about the famed “Throckmorton sign” in all possible scenarios. A good dick-joke is never to be missed.

Of course, some males are so endowed as to impress the doctors and nurses with the immensity of their ding-dongs. In this case one might speak about a “Hugely positive Throckmorton sign” or a “Tremendously false-positive Throckmorton sign”.

The above Xray demonstrates a normal pelvis and hip in a 27 year old white male who had fallen off a ladder. The patient reportied pain initially on the left side. Therefore this is what’s knows as an “Oh my goodness, WOW! Hugely false-positive reverse-Throckmorton sign.”