title: Verification of the pressure provocative test in carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: Three provocative tests (pressure, Phalen's test, and Tinel's sign) were studied in 30 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 30 control subjects. The pressure provocative test had a sensitivity of 100%. In contrast, Phalen's test was 88% sensitive and Tinel's sign only 67% sensitive. The pressure provocative test is a sensitive indicator of median nerve compression at the wrist with a faster reaction time than Phalen's test (mean time of 9 seconds vs 30 seconds). It is an appropriate provocative test in patients with stiff or painful wrists when wrist flexion is restricted.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011312:Pressure