Finkelstein test
Clinical examination maneuver to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis by stretching first dorsal compartment tendons.
Full Definition
The Finkelstein test is a provocative clinical examination technique used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a condition affecting the first dorsal compartment tendons (abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis). The test is performed by having the patient make a fist with the thumb tucked inside the fingers, then passively deviating the wrist in an ulnar direction. A positive test reproduces pain over the radial styloid and first dorsal compartment. The test was originally described by Harry Finkelstein in 1930 and remains a cornerstone of physical examination for radial-sided wrist pain. False positives can occur in patients with thumb carpometacarpal arthritis or intersection syndrome.
Usage
Usage note: Named test should be capitalized; distinguish from similar provocative tests for wrist pathology.
In Context
- "A positive Finkelstein test confirmed the suspected diagnosis of De Quervain's tenosynovitis." — Clinical examination note
- "The Finkelstein test was negative bilaterally, making first dorsal compartment pathology unlikely." — Physical therapy assessment