title: Examination of patients for carpal tunnel syndrome sensibility, provocative, and motor testing.
abstract: The value of a test for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) depends on the purpose of performing the test. When screening a large population with a low prevalence for CTS, a test with a high sensitivity is needed so that no possible case goes undetected. However, in order to establish a diagnosis, a more specific test is required. Using a combination of physical examination techniques, including sensibility and provocative testing, the probability of correctly diagnosing CTS without relying on electrodiagnostic studies can be very high. Because CTS is a clinical syndrome, the diagnosis should be made on clinical grounds. Electrodiagnosis is extremely important, however, in its ability to objectively document median nerve slowing and eliminate other competing differential diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Indiana Hand Center, 8501 Harcourt Road, Indianapolis, IN 46280, USA.
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Szabo
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D006801:Humans