Best Reflex Hammer

[couchpotatochip]

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Our school suggests a queen square reflex hammer for the neurology clerkship; any recommendations? So far, I've been looking at the two below, and would welcome any other suggestions as well.

1. Amazon product ASIN B0012NI67S
2. Amazon product ASIN B002DW12NC
The appeal of the first hammer (20cm length) is that it seems easier to carry around than the second (36cm length). At the same time, of course, I would like optimal functionality. Does anyone who has used both/either have recommendations between the two?

A middle ground seems to be the telescoping hammer (linked below), but I wasn't sure if it was worth spending $33.

Amazon product ASIN B00AZF36R4
I've read of some neurologists suggesting the tromner, but as our school recommends the queen square I thought it would perhaps be wise to stick to the school's recommendation.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Giovanotto]

Had an attending sport one of these the size of a toilet plunger. Do that.

 

[longhaul3]

The best reflex hammer is the one you already have on you. Fingertips, cell phone, stethoscope if you carry one.

 

[holdthemayo]

I bought a $4 tomahawk hammer. It has been more than enough to elicit reflexes on anyone who has them, even on my neuro rotation.

 

[RangerBob]

The key for a good reflex hammer is for it to be heavy enough and long enough so that you can get consistent/reliable results.

The queen squares are one of the best. But I find them awkward to carry. And many are really cheap and won’t stay locked. Only the non-telescoping and non-folding ones are worthwhile. A long handled (the ones over a foot) one screams “I’m an academic neurologist.”

Tromner is great-I used one in medical school. Sometimes looks scary to little kids though.

The cheap Taylor hammers (tomahawk) are useless. Your fingers and stethoscope are better (though those are fairly worthless too). If you show up to a neuro or PM&R clerkship using any of those three they’ll lose respect for you. Its like showing up to cardiology rounds with a plastic stethoscope. Maybe you have great ears and can hear a grade I murmur with it, but they don’t know you and will judge you.

I use the “Taylor 2.0” hammer. Relatively cheap through Amazon. Designed by an academic neurologist who wanted to see if he/she could make a Taylor hammer useful. It’s an upgraded version of the cheap Taylor’s, with actual weight in the head and a long handle. And it’s not as awkward in a pocket as a Queen Square or Tromner. It’s my favorite now.

Most other rotations could care less what hammer you use. But considering the cost difference is about $20-30, you may as well get a decent one.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

The best reflex hammer is the one you already have on you. Fingertips, cell phone, stethoscope if you carry one.

I was a fingertips hammer guy and could reliably elicit reflexes. Before, that I had (and still have) a Tromner laying in the bookshelf next to me. I haven't used it in 6 years though.

 

[medic86]

At my school, the neurologists would make fun of you if you were carrying anything other than a Tromner.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Fingers. Inexpensive, useful in other ways, and they never get lost.

 

[bommer1389]

At my school, the neurologists would make fun of you if you were carrying anything other than a Tromner.

And on the inside, I’m sure you were thinking “wow these people seem really cool”

 

[GuillainMollaret]

Tromner

 

[couchpotatochip]

Thank you guys so much. Sounds like the Trömner is the way to go! I was mainly looking at the Queen Square because our school's written manual recommends it. Thinking I'll check with the faculty to see if the Trömner is acceptable instead.

 

[MusicDOc124]

Amazon product ASIN B00AZF36R4
I liked this one the best. I had a trimmer previously and liked it more than the others UNTIL I got this one. And since it telescopes it easily just fits in my pocket unlike the longer non telescoping versions.

 

[Ligament]

A real wood handle queen square with rattan handle to show your attendings they know nothing about their equipment:

Queen Square with Rattan Handle - US Neurologicals

First popularized and named at National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in Queen Square, London.

www.usneurologicals.com

Or this german made Zellerit Reflex Hammer, which IMHO is the ideal new style and will show your attendings they know nothing about their equipement:

Zellerit Reflex Hammer - US Neurologicals

Zellerit Reflex Hammer made in Germany.

www.usneurologicals.com

I have the Zellerit and love it.

US Neurologicals is owned by a practicing neurologist. It is one of the coolest shops on the web.

The only people that use Taylor hammers are PCPs who have to document "reflexes" for billing purposes.

 

[aldol16]

Definitely the Tromner. It's very well made, the weight distribution is perfect, and it fits in your pocket. The Queen's hammer is nice and it's really good for eliciting reflexes due to its length which is why most neuro clerkships recommend it but it's also a pain in the ass to carry around. Tromner works just as well for getting reflexes.

 

[Ligament]

Definitely the Tromner. It's very well made, the weight distribution is perfect, and it fits in your pocket. The Queen's hammer is nice and it's really good for eliciting reflexes due to its length which is why most neuro clerkships recommend it but it's also a pain in the ass to carry around. Tromner works just as well for getting reflexes.

Zellerit

 

[nimbus]

I’m an old fart but we used these back in the day.

 

[ZezKaiEll]

The wand hammer chooses the wizard.

No seriously, it comes down to personal preference once you decide to buy a real hammer.

My thoughts:
Tromner-elegant, German, good weight and feel. You'll feel like Robert Baratheon
Queen sq-easiest to elicit reflexes, especially the Achilles, doesn't fit easily in pockets
Babinsky-if telescoping, stores easier than Queens sq but doesn't feel as stable
Others-no real advantage over above
Taylor-American hammers are like American cars. They suck.

Whatever you choose, don't use your fingers like some plebeian. Or even worse, pick up one of those cereal box tomahawks like was suggested above. The point isn't just to see a reflex, but to distinguish reliably b/w hyper/hypo/normal.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I use the tomahawk my school gave me. It works fine, and I'm certainly not buying a reflex hammer just for one clerkship.

 

[NickNaylor]

Whatever you buy, just make sure it's well-built and solid. Don't get a cheap one with a plastic hammer, those suck; get something that's metal all the way through. You can get a pretty nice one from Amazon for about $30 - I think it's made by IDF. I carry it in my bag and am happy with it. I had a similar one with a plastic handle (but metal head) and it had way too much flex to make me feel comfortable with the thing.

 

[hallowmann]

I got the one that came with the kit one of the clubs at my school put together. It was dejerine style and has excellent weight, pretty easy to carry around. I still use it sometimes. Don't remember the brand, but I was surprised that they chose such a good one after the fact. Most neurologists I bumped into thought it was a good choice.

I see neurologists with the queen square the most, but those look like a huge pain to carry around. The regular Taylor tomahawks feel useless. It is seen the most in non-Neurology clinics. They can work, but at that point they work as good as the bell of a good stethoscope, which I probably use the most nowadays.

If you're going into Neuro, NSG or Psych, I would probably invest in a solid one. Beyond that, the bell of a good steth works and should be able to give you at least the basics (reflex present or absent, hyperreflexive or normal, etc.).

 

[longhaul3]

If you're going into Neuro, NSG or Psych, I would probably invest in a solid one. Beyond that, the bell of a good steth works and should be able to give you at least the basics (reflex present or absent, hyperreflexive or normal, etc.).

Definitely not needed in neurosurgery. You might find one in a spine surgeon's office but that's about it.

 

[deleted407021]

The neuro nerds have their hammers and that’s cool, but I get reliable reflexes with the head of my littmann Classic III and it approximates the mechanics somewhat of the square hammers.

 

[SirGecko]

I use the tomahawk my school gave me. It works fine, and I'm certainly not buying a reflex hammer just for one clerkship.

They are super cheap though. I’m in radiology now so I don’t even know where mine is anymore (I don’t even really know where my stethoscope is, at my desk maybe?) but I didn’t regret spending an extra 15 dollars on a nicer hammer when I was in medical school.