Finkelstein's Test |
Examination type |
Passive
Range of Motion |
Patient & Body Segment Positioning |
Patient sits
or stands and forms a fist with the fingers around the thumb of
the same hand |
Examiner Position |
Examiner
stands with the one hand grasping the subject’s forearm to
stabilize it and the other hand grasping the subject’s fist.
|
Performing the Test |
The examiner
stabilizes the forearm with the one hand and ulnarly deviates
the subject’s wrist to 30 degrees with the other hand |
Tissues
Being Tested |
Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis
brevis tendons |
Positive Test |
Patient will feel pain over the abductor pollicis
longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons at the wrist |
Interpretation |
Indicative of paratenonitis, De Quervain’s
disease, and Hoffman’s disease |
Common errors in
performing exam |
Deviating
the wrist in the wrong direction;
Patient applying force to the test when it should be performed
passively |
Factors possibly
resulting in misinterpretation |
De
Quervain’s tenosynovitis must be differentiated from
degenerative arthritis and trapeziometacarpal joint by doing the
Grind Test. Finkelstiein’s Test can also cause some discomfort
in normal individuals. Therefore the examiner should compare
the pain caused on the affected side with that of the unaffected
side. |
Related tests |
Hitchhiker’s Test, Grind Test |
References |
Konin. Special Test for Orthopedic Examination. 2nd
Ed. 2002. pp.103.
Magee. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 4th
Ed. 2002. pp.396. |
Links: |
http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/finkelsteins_test_and_the_grind_test
http://www.fpnotebook.com/ORT76.htm
http://www.eorthopod.com/area/10
http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/08/13/26.html
http://www.davidlnelson.md/DeQuervain.htm |
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