
The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, a common condition that causes wrist pain and is characterized by swelling and pain in two of the tendons in the wrist that attach to the base of the thumb. The Finkelstein test is often confused with the Eichhoff test, which may produce more false positives. The Finkelstein test involves the examiner pulling the patient's thumb in ulnar deviation and longitudinal traction. If there is increased pain in the radial styloid process and along the length of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons, then the test is positive for de Quervain's syndrome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Finkelstein's Test |
| Alternative Names | Finkelstein sign, Finkelstein maneuver |
| Use | To diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, de Quervain's disease, de Quervain's syndrome, tenovaginitis, first dorsal compartment tendonitis |
| Tested Muscles | Extensor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis longus |
| Test Description | Examiner grasps the patient's thumb and ulnar deviates the hand sharply. |
| Positive Result | Pain along the distal radius, pain radiating up the inside of the arm from the thumb |
| Negative Result | No pain |
| Accuracy | High reliability, low false positives |
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What You'll Learn
- The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- It involves the extensor pollicis brevis muscle
- The abductor pollicis longus muscle is also involved
- The test is often confused with the Eichhoff maneuver
- It's used to differentiate De Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions

The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis
The test is named after Harry Finkelstein, an American surgeon who first described it in 1930. During the test, the examiner grasps the patient's thumb and ulnarly deviates the hand sharply. If sharp pain occurs along the distal radius (top of the forearm, close to the wrist), De Quervain's tenosynovitis is likely. The patient's wrist must be at the proper angle to avoid false positives. The examiner may also palpate the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons during the test.
To perform the test, the patient sits comfortably on the examination table with their afflicted hand in the air and the other hand resting against their body. The examiner then grasps the patient's hand and rotates it in ulnar deviation, pulling the thumb across the palm. This causes additional stress on the extensor tendons of the thumb. A positive test result indicates De Quervain's syndrome, while a negative result suggests the patient does not have this condition.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is often treated with corticosteroid injections, which provide complete relief in most cases. If injections are not effective, surgery may be recommended. Imaging techniques such as X-rays can also be used to rule out other conditions like arthritis.
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It involves the extensor pollicis brevis muscle
The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a condition that causes wrist pain. It involves the extensor pollicis brevis muscle.
To perform the test, the patient must sit comfortably and relaxed on the examination table. They must hold their afflicted hand in the air, while the other hand rests against their body. The therapist will then grasp the patient's hand and rotate it in ulnar deviation, pulling the patient's thumb across the palm of their hand. This movement causes additional stress on the extensor tendons of the thumb.
If there is increased pain in the radial styloid process and along the length of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons, then the test is positive for De Quervain's syndrome. This syndrome is characterised by swelling and pain in two of the tendons in the wrist that attach to the base of the thumb.
The Finkelstein test is often confused with the Eichhoff maneuver, which involves the patient placing their thumb into their palm and ulnarly deviating. The Eichhoff test can produce more false positives than the Finkelstein test.
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The abductor pollicis longus muscle is also involved
The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, a common condition that causes wrist pain. It is also known as the Finkelstein sign or maneuver. This test is often confused with the Eichhoff maneuver, which involves placing the thumb into the palm and ulnarly deviating, and can produce more false positives.
Finkelstein's test involves the examiner pulling the patient's thumb across the palm of their hand, causing additional stress on the extensor tendons of the thumb. This test is positive for De Quervain's syndrome if the patient reports noticeable pain radiating up the inside of their arm from the thumb.
The test can be performed with the patient sitting comfortably on the examination table, holding their afflicted hand in the air. The examiner grasps the patient's hand and rotates it in ulnar deviation, pulling the thumb across the palm. This test can be used to differentiate de Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions, as it specifically targets the tendons involved in this condition.
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The test is often confused with the Eichhoff maneuver
The Finkelstein test is often confused with the Eichhoff maneuver, which was first described in 1927. The Eichhoff test is the more commonly described test where the patient places their thumb into their palm and ulnarly deviates. The original mistake in naming the test occurred in a 1958 paper by Leao, who quoted the Eichoff maneuver as the Finkelstein test. The Eichhoff test can produce more false positives, which was discovered in 1992 by Eliott.
The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, a common condition causing swelling and pain in two of the tendons in the wrist that attach to the base of the thumb. The Finkelstein test is also called the Finkelstein sign or maneuver. It is used to differentiate de Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions. The test is considered superior to the Eichhoff test, which can cause pain in surrounding tissues and lead to more false positives.
The Eichhoff test is performed by making a fist with the thumb tucked inside and then passively abducting the hand toward the ulnar side. The Finkelstein test, on the other hand, involves the examiner grasping the thumb and ulnarly deviating the hand sharply. If sharp pain occurs along the distal radius, de Quervain's tenosynovitis is likely.
The Finkelstein test has three stages, with the patient's hand being moved into certain positions. Pain in these positions indicates de Quervain's tenosynovitis. A negative test suggests the patient does not have the condition. The test should only be performed by a trained medical professional to ensure accurate results.
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It's used to differentiate De Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions
The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a common condition that causes wrist pain. It is often used to differentiate De Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions. De Quervain's tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons in the wrist that attach to the base of the thumb. It is also called De Quervain's tendinosis or De Quervain's tendinitis. The Finkelstein test is considered superior to the Eichhoff test, which can produce more false positives.
During the Finkelstein test, the examiner grasps the patient's afflicted hand and rotates it in ulnar deviation, pulling the patient's thumb across the palm of their hand. This causes additional stress on the extensor tendons of the thumb. If the patient reports noticeable pain radiating up the inside of their arm from the thumb, the test is positive for De Quervain's syndrome.
The Finkelstein test is often performed by doctors, physiotherapists, and other trained professionals to differentiate De Quervain's tenosynovitis from other wrist conditions. It is important to note that only a trained medical professional should perform this test to ensure accurate results. Imaging tests, such as X-rays, may also be used to rule out other causes of wrist pain, such as osteoarthritis or arthritis.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is typically treated by reducing the swelling and irritation of the tendons and tendon sheath, which relieves the pain caused by the condition. This can be done through the use of splints, corticosteroid injections, or, in severe cases, surgery. The goal of surgery is to release the tendon sheath to make more room for the irritated tendons, thereby relieving the symptoms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Finkelstein Test is a provocative test used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a condition causing wrist pain and inflammation of the tendons in the wrist that connect to the base of the thumb.
The Finkelstein Test involves the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) muscles and tendons.
The patient sits comfortably with their afflicted hand in the air while the therapist grasps and rotates the hand in ulnar deviation, pulling the thumb across the palm. This manoeuvre stresses the extensor tendons of the thumb.
The Finkelstein Test is indicated when De Quervain's tenosynovitis is suspected. This condition is characterised by swelling and pain in the tendons of the wrist that attach to the base of the thumb.
A positive Finkelstein Test is indicated by pain radiating up the inside of the arm from the thumb. This suggests De Quervain's syndrome or tenosynovitis. A negative test indicates an absence of the condition.











































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