Department of Clinical Skills Alfaisal University College of Medicine

PRO 234 Introduction to Basic Clinical Skills

Year 2 Semester 3 Fall 2019
Checklist: Technique of Percussion

PERCUSSION TECHNIQUE
NOTE: Fingernails must be trimmed short to be able to percuss correctly.
Hyperextend the middle finger of your left hand, known as the pleximeter finger. Press
its distal interphalangeal joint firmly on the surfaced to be percussed. Avoid surface
contact by any other part of the hand, because this dampens out vibrations. Note that
the thumb and 2nd, 4th, and 5th fingers are not touching the chest.
Position your right forearm quite close to the surface, with the hand cocked upward.
The middle finger should be partially flexed, relaxed, and poised to strike.
With a quick sharp but relaxed wrist motion, strike the pleximeter finger with the right
middle finger, or plexor finger. Aim at your distal interphalangeal joint. You are trying to
transmit vibrations through the bones of this joint to the underlying chest wall. Strike
using the tip of the plexor finger, not the finger pad. Your finger should be almost at
right angles to the pleximeter. A short fingernail is recommended to avoid self-injury.
Withdraw your striking finger quickly to avoid damping the vibrations you have created.
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BASIC PROTOCOL
1 Greets the patient and introduces him/herself
2 Confirms identity of the patient and explains the procedure
3 Obtains consent
4 sanitizes hands
5 Exposes the area to be examined
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PERCUSSION
6 Presses the MIDDLE phalanx of the left middle finger firmly against the area to be
percussed
7 Strikes this MIDDLE phalanx with the tip of the right middle finger, withdrawing finger
immediately after striking
8 Swings the percussing hand at the wrist while percussing
9 Gently covers patient’s exposed area
10 Thanks the patient