Neurologic Examination - Special Tests
Author: Richard Rathe, MD / rrathe@dean.med.ufl.edu
Copyright: 1996 by the University of Florida
Location: http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs/clist/neurosp.html
Created: January 15, 1996
Modified: November 10, 1997
This Section Is Under Development
- Radial Nerve - Web space between thumb and index finger
- Median Nerve - Palmar surface of index finger
- Ulnar Nerve - Ulnar aspect of little finger
- Axillary Nerve - Lateral arm over the deltoid muscle
- Ask the patient to press the backs of the hands together with the wrists fully flexed (backward praying). [p479] [1] ++ [2]
- Have the patient hold this position for 60 seconds and then comment on how the hands feel.
- Pain, tingling, or other abnormal sensations in the thumb, index, or middle fingers strongly suggest carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Use your middle finger or a reflex hammer to tap over the carpal tunnel. [p479] ++
- Pain, tingling, or electric sensations strongly suggest carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Page numbers refer to A Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, Sixth Edition by Barbara Bates, published by Lippincott in 1995.
#Additional Testing - Tests marked with (++) may be skipped unless an abnormality is suspected.