Kehr

Kehr is a surname of German origin that appears in historical and contemporary records. In addition to its use as a family name, the term occurs in medical and academic contexts where eponyms bearing the name Kehr appear in literature, including clinical and biographical texts from the 19th and 20th centuries. The name may be encountered in European historical documents, genealogical records, and modern scientific writing.

Kehr’s sign is the best-known medical use of the term. It refers to referred pain felt in the left shoulder or trapezius region due to irritation of the diaphragmatic peritoneum, typically from intraperitoneal bleeding such as splenic rupture or other acute abdominal pathology. The mechanism involves diaphragmatic irritation triggering afferent signals through the phrenic nerve (C3–C5). Kehr’s sign is an important but non-specific clue in trauma assessment and abdominal emergencies, and its presence must be interpreted in the context of the patient’s overall clinical picture. The sign may be absent in some patients and can be influenced by factors such as body position, analgesia, and concurrent injuries.

Beyond medicine, Kehr functions as a surname found in various German-speaking communities and, as with many names of similar origin, appears across historical and contemporary contexts in science, arts, and public life.