Sharp pain during percussion while assessing costovertebral angle suggests which condition?

Sharp pain during percussion when assessing the costovertebral angle is indicative of kidney inflammation, specifically conditions such as pyelonephritis or other forms of kidney infection. The costovertebral angle is the area at the back where the rib cage meets the spine, and when this area is tapped or percussed, discomfort or pain typically signals irritation or inflammation of the underlying structures, such as the kidneys.

In the case of kidney inflammation, the kidneys may be swollen or irritated, causing increased sensitivity to pressure. This can produce a notable pain response during the percussion test, which is a key assessment tool used by healthcare providers to evaluate renal health.

Other conditions such as pancreatitis might cause abdominal pain or back discomfort, but they would not specifically manifest as pain upon percussion of the costovertebral angle. Similarly, rib fractures primarily result in localized pain when pressure is applied to the rib itself rather than the costovertebral angle. Appendicitis typically presents with pain in the lower right abdomen, not in the costovertebral angle region. Thus, the presence of sharp pain in this specific area strongly suggests kidney inflammation.