Wrist and hand
Phalen test
- What you examine
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Procedure
- Hold both wrists in maximal palmar flexion against each other for 60 seconds.
- Positive when
- Tingling or numbness in the median nerve territory (thumb, index finger, middle finger and the radial half of the ring finger).
- What the test is worth
- Sensitivity around 0.68 and specificity around 0.73; stronger in combination with the Tinel test and the pattern of night-time complaints.
- Caution
- Complaints in the little finger argue against a median problem and point towards the ulnar nerve.
- Body region
- Wrist and hand