Sensitivity and specificity of carpal tunnel syndrome signs

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
K A Kuhlman, W J Hennessey

Abstract

The sensitivity and specificity of six carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) signs were determined by evaluating 143 subjects (228 hands) with symptoms of CTS. Immediately after performing the six physical examination tests, standard nerve conduction studies were performed on all 228 hands to determine the presence or absence of CTS. CTS was present in 142 hands and absent in 86 hands. The signs were not very sensitive (23-69%), but were fairly specific (66-87%) for CTS. A square-shaped wrist and abductor pollicis brevis weakness were the most sensitive signs (69 and 66%, respectively), and are recommended as part of the examination of CTS. Median nerve hypesthesia and the Phalen sign both have fair sensitivity (51%) but good specificity (85 and 76%, respectively). The median nerve compression sign and the Hoffmann-Tinel sign both have poor sensitivity (28 and 23%, respectively), and thus are less helpful in evaluating subjects with suspected CTS.

References

Oct 21, 1978·British Medical Journal·J D Stewart, A Eisen
Oct 1, 1992·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·F J FalcoG Goldberg
Nov 1, 1989·Muscle & Nerve·W S PeaseE W Johnson
Oct 1, 1988·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·A CassvanJ Weiss
Nov 1, 1988·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·P Seror
Apr 1, 1988·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·D Dumitru, N E Walsh
Oct 1, 1987·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·P Seror
Nov 1, 1986·British Journal of Rheumatology·D N GoldingK Selvarajah
Mar 1, 1972·Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·G S Phalen
Mar 1, 1994·Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·W J HennesseyR L Braddom
Jun 1, 1994·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·P Radecki
Sep 1, 1995·Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·R C SposatoC L Glismann

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 13, 2010·Journal of Orthopaedic Science : Official Journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association·Shigeharu UchiyamaToshimitsu Momose
Aug 26, 2010·Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation·Teryl NuckolsUNKNOWN Carpal Tunnel Quality Group
Jun 14, 2005·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·R AmirfeyzI J Leslie
Sep 5, 2001·Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery·M MondelliF Giannini
Jan 5, 2002·Journal of Hand Therapy : Official Journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists·P McClure
Aug 29, 2003·Journal of Hand Therapy : Official Journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists·Victoria W Priganc, Sharon M Henry
Sep 19, 2000·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·J D Bland
Jan 25, 2002·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·James L CosgroveRichard Reeves
Apr 22, 2004·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·Pamela A HansenLawrence R Robinson
Jul 28, 2004·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Erika N Davis, Kevin C Chung
Mar 1, 2012·Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease·Matti D Allen, Timothy J Doherty
Mar 20, 2013·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Michael M Van VlietCarolyn L Kerrigan
Aug 21, 2013·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·Georgia NtaniDavid Coggon
May 25, 2006·Clinical Medicine & Research·Jason M SansoneSteven H Yale
Nov 24, 2004·The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy·Christine B Novak
Aug 10, 2007·Physiotherapy Theory and Practice·Chad Cook, Adam Goode
Dec 15, 2006·Pain Practice : the Official Journal of World Institute of Pain·Phillip S SizerLeslie Dedrick
Nov 18, 2008·The Journal of Analytical Psychology·Michael Horne
Feb 25, 2011·Hand Surgery : an International Journal Devoted to Hand and Upper Limb Surgery and Related Research : Journal of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand·M J BridgesA J Chuck
Feb 21, 2014·The Journal of Hand Surgery, European Volume·L H LeeJ Stothard
Sep 6, 2000·Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria·J A KouyoumdjianG M Gouveia
Dec 3, 2016·Journal of Evidence-based Complementary & Alternative Medicine·Mohammad SetayeshHossein Rezaeizadeh
Sep 26, 2006·Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery : JPRAS·A R Day, H J C R Belcher
Jul 6, 2004·The Journal of Hand Surgery : Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand·L-P KamolzM Frey
Jul 30, 2008·The Journal of Hand Surgery, European Volume·P G LimT Sara Ahmad
Mar 31, 2004·Muscle & Nerve·John C WittJ Clarke Stevens
Dec 6, 2017·Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice·Rameshwar Nath ChaurasiaDeepika Joshi
Mar 31, 2016·World Journal of Radiology·Hideaki MiyamotoSakae Tanaka
Sep 3, 2011·American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation·Matti D Allen, Timothy J Doherty
May 15, 2007·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Fan LiuRonit Wollstein
Apr 4, 2012·The Open Orthopaedics Journal·I IbrahimP Smitham
Apr 5, 2018·Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation·Murat Alemdar
Nov 2, 2001·Physical Therapy·J M Fritz, R S Wainner
May 22, 2018·The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery·Aliaa A TawfeekSaly H Elkholy
Apr 27, 2012·Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine·Kevin D EvansMiriam Freimer
Feb 6, 2017·Neurologia Medico-chirurgica·Masatoshi YunokiKimihiro Yoshino

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.