MDF Instruments, Tromner Neurological Reflex Hammer with Built-in Brush for Cutaneous and Superficial Responses - Light - HDP Handle - Durable, Professional-Grade - Black (MDF555P-11)

Bought this to replace a babinski style that was just WAY too hard to be hitting my fingers with for biceps reflex. The tips are much softer so they do not hurt when hitting my thumb, or even the brachioradialis against the radius. It is well balanced with a flexible handle. I was worried it would be too flexible and would have to upgrade to the metal handle but so far this has not been the case since the hammer really does all the work. It comes with a brush in the handle for light touch sensation. I don't know if I will use this unless it's in a pinch and I can't find a paper clip or tongue depressor. The bush also has a cowl that makes a little rattling sound in the handle. It doesn't bother me, I stopped noticing it after a couple hits, but if little sounds bother you you could always tape the cowl over the brush. The "babinski point" is not as sharp as my previous hammer (that one was basically a nail), however I am apprehensive to use it, I don't think it is sharp enough to break the skin, but it is more sharp than most other hammers I've used. It is longer than most Taylor hammers or my previous collapsible babinski so it does stick out of the white coat pocket a bit. It stays put though because the head is weighted so nicely, just be careful bending over, you'll stab yourself in the abdomen with the point. Overall: well weighted, hammer, effective for eliciting every reflex, definitely the best reflex hammer I've used so far in my short career. PAS-1 As a side note, If you screw the point hiding the brush on too tightly it becomes VERY difficult to get out, thus eliminating the idea you could use the brush in a pinch unless you happen to carry a pair of pliers with you as well.

As a resident who will be going into neurology, this hammer was a great buy and totally changed my life (or at least my neurology exam skills). Seriously. In my pre-Tromner days I used to carry around a Tomahawk. I was then told by my attending, an neurologist, "Don't ever use a tomahawk on people. Only babies." Needless to say, this person wasn't a pediatric neurologist, but the message was clear - get a new hammer. So, a half hour and 19 dollars later, I purchased this one, and once I got it in the mail, my Tomahawk hasn't seen the light of day (except for when examining newborns). As far as muscle tendon reflexes go, this hammer rocks. The weight in the head really makes it much easier to elicit reflexes. This mixed with my distraction skills has made me able to get reflexes on a lot of (neurologically healthy) people who tell me, "Everytime I go to the doctor they can never get reflexes on me" as I'm tapping their patellar tendon and then bam...muscle contraction! Forget having to use that two fingered technique and 'swinging' the tomahawk...this one's substantial enough that you just need to hold it, and let the weight of the metal head do the work. I have the black handle model, which has the nifty little brush if you unscrew the metal tip (which isn't as sharp as it appears). I occasionally use the brush for checking light touch although it's probably the least useful part of the hammer (but there for those rare times you need to check light touch more formally or are trying to test a very small area like the hand). For Babinski's you're still probably better off using the traditional Tomahawk handle tip, to be fair. I don't think the tip is too sharp to be used for it, it's just a wider, blunter tip and doesn't work as well for eliciting a Babinski. However, in all other ways this reflex hammer is much easier to use than the little tomahawk one. Just carrying it makes you feel more like a serious neurologist. I didn't buy it for looks but I'm frequently told that "it looks very expensive". It's my nerdy version of a nice watch. But in all seriousness, this is one of my most utilized tools in my neurology kit. Well worth it!

The reflex hammer is well made, fits comfortably in my hand, and is easy to use. I like the compressibility of the rubber tip, and it does not hurt when striking a finger. This is the neurologists preferred choice in reflex hammers, and I can tell why. It works well, is very durable, sleekly designed and well constructed.

Great Reflex Hammer - As an MS1 with a neurologist for a sister - I was lucky to have this hammer suggested early on when I was having issues eliciting good consistent reflexes with my POS telescoping disc hammer. Quickly ended the embarrassment of having SPs sit there and stare at me while I meekly apologize for impotently swinging away at their ankles over and over :) Pros - I prefer this hammer for a number of reasons 1. The different hammer sizes make this great for getting good reflexes out of different locations - the big one is perfect for patellar, biceps, triceps, and other large muscle DTRs, while the smaller side is great for those that need precise or delicate strikes like jaw-jerk or when testing kids. 2. Also, in comparison with the round head or wedge, the pressure from a strike is more focused it seems - which seems to elicit better reflexes than a broad area of impact when using the disc. 3. The rubber on the hammers is not completely solid and is also more forgiving while still maintaining better impacts - roughly the same swing speed feels softer somehow than vs my solid rubber hammer - could be a pro or con depending on how you feel about your patients I guess 4. The weight of the hammer is well balanced, and makes it easy to get a good, smooth swing, and the length seems to help me actually hit what I'm aiming for - the telescoping hammer was ridiculous and awkward when trying to get enough force behind a swing for ankle jerk in a seated patient as its light weight requires a longer arc to generate speed, or a rapid swing to achieve a similar force. With ankles, a longer arc is tricky to get when at the patient's feet, and swinging faster at this angle is sort of awkward and makes it harder to hit a precise spot. Cons 1. Wish it was all metal, but the plastic isn't so bad 2. the point at the bottom is not sharp enough to get a good babinski's or pinprick vs soft sensation testing in many of the older SPs we work with - they can't tell the difference between the softer hammer and 'sharp' point in both upper and lower extremity sensation tests. Bottom Line - there's a reason this is the reflex hammer neurologists use - it's a superior tool for its task

Good stethoscopes will cost you a couple of hundred bucks. Decent ophthalmoscopes can cost as much. Who can afford them when you're a medical student with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt? But you can afford a quality reflex hammer and oh man will it make a difference in your neuro exam! This hammer is heavy to carry around, but it's lighter than MDF Trömner Hammer > MDF 555 > Red Spice > Garnet . To get a reflex, you just let the weight do its work. You don't swing this hammer. The hammer will bounce back nicely and get the reflex (as long as you hit the right spot). Babinski tip is too sharp, I thought, to use on patients. I use it for sharp sensation instead. The tip can be screwed off for a brush inside but I don't use brush for neuro exam. And the brush has cheap feeling to it. It's the only part of this hammer that feels cheap. The other hammer that I mentioned above feels nicer (and heavier) and it doesn't have a screwed tip that feels cheap. But you can't use the end of the handle for babinski, either, as it's too blunt. It gets 4 stars because it doesn't have a useful babinski tip for me. I don't mind the weight because my pockets are already full and heavy anyway, but that could be a deal breaker for someone. And you need the weight to do a good, consistent whacking. I've used the taylor one, way too light and hard to get good reflex. The one with round head is a lot better than the taylor one at getting the reflexes but they come in only two ways: one you cannot fold the head and retract the pole, which is too large and too long to fit in a white coat, or one you can fold the head and retract the pole that you need to tighten the screw the head every now and then. This one is the best I feel. Best at getting reflexes, solid, and small enough to fit into a white coat pocket. So yeah, it's, what, $20 more expensive than the taylor one or so, but it does make a huge difference. Get either of the tromner and it will make your life a bit easier.

This is a solid and high-quality reflex hammer for clinical use. It has a good weight to it and is comfortable to use. It is not one of those cheaper hammers out there. This will last you a long time, unless you lose it.

Great hammer. Easy to use. Fits in most scrub pockets I have.

Really nice balance, weight, size; nice soft heads. Makes it easier for me to get the reflexes;

En mi opinión en mejor diseño.

Una herramienta profesional que cumple con su objetivo, la uso en la consulta

Tragedia młotek przyszedł w dwóch kawałkach, tandetny materiał!

I love this! It’s so much easier to elicit reflexes.

腱反射をとるのが速くなった．良い打腱器だと思います．