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Tinels sign
ness and tingling in the distribution of the median Elicitation: Tap over the median nerve as it pass-
nerve, as well as nocturnal pain, which occurs in as es through the carpal tunnel in the wrist
many as 95% of patients.4 Diagnosis is usually based on
clinical grounds but is often confirmed with electro- Positive response: A sensation of tingling in the
physiologic testing. Several physical signs are associated distribution of the median nerve over the hand
with carpal tunnel syndrome, including Tinels sign
and Phalens maneuver (Sidebar). Since the initial Phalens maneuver
description of Tinels sign and Phalens maneuver, the Elicitation: Allow wrists to fall freely into maxi-
significance of these two signs and their usefulness in mum flexion and maintain the position for
the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome have been 60 seconds or more
extensively debated.
Positive response: A sensation of tingling in the
HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE distribution of the median nerve over the hand
In 1915, German physiologist Paul Hoffman
(18841962) described a sensation of tingling or
pins and needles that could be elicited whenever an
injured nerve was percussed.5 According to Hoffman, proposed a diagnostic triad, which included Tinels
this distal tingling on percussion was a sign of nerve sign, a wrist flexion test (ie, Phalens maneuver), and
regeneration. Later in 1915, Jules Tinel (18791952), a the appropriate anatomic distribution of paresthesia
French neurologist, described a tingling sensation or elicited by both examinations.
formication sign produced by slight percussion of a
nerve trunk some time after an injury.6 Tinel attributed TINELS SIGN
the tingling to the presence of young axons in the As previously noted, the original description of
process of growing,7 thereby validating Hoffmans Tinels sign did not involve carpal tunnel syndrome.
interpretation of the sign. Although Hoffman first The sign has, however, become commonly associated
described the symptom, the tingling has been largely with this condition. A positive Tinels sign (Figure 1) is
recognized as Tinels sign. described as a tingling sensation in a specific anatomic
Tinels sign was not associated with carpal tunnel distribution, which occurs as a result of light percus-
syndrome until more than 50 years later, when George sion over a nerve. The intensity of percussion necessary
S. Phalen, an American hand surgeon, described the to elicit Tinels sign should be enough to cause the
usefulness of the sign in the diagnosis of this expected response while avoiding direct mechanical
condition.8 For more than 17 years, Phalen studied stimulation of the nerve.6
patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. In 1957, he
described Tinels sign as a tingling sensation radiating
out into the hand, which is obtained by light percus- Dr. Urbano is in general internal medicine, Partners in Primary Care,
sion over the median nerve at the wrist.9 Phalen also Medford, NJ.
Tapping produces
Pathophysiology
paresthesias
(Tinels sign) The pathophysiology of Tinels sign is thought to
involve abnormal mechanosensitivity of the involved
nerve, presumably due to the disease process.5 This
Figure 1. A positive Tinels sign for suspected carpal tunnel results in afferent discharge at the level of the regener-
syndrome results in distribution of paresthesias (shaded area) ating nerves, thus producing a pins and needles sensa-
when the median nerve is compressed by swelling in the tion, which characterizes the sign. On a cellular level,
wrist. Adapted with permission from Bennett JC, Plum F, eds: the sign may be caused by an abnormally excitable
Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 20th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, membrane.
1996:1462.
PHALENS MANEUVER
Phalens maneuver (Figure 2), or the wrist flexion
In suspected carpal tunnel syndrome, the median test, is described as positive when full flexion of the
nerve is percussed, but Tinels sign may be elicited with wrist for 60 seconds causes paresthesia in the territory
percussion of a variety of other nerves, including the of the median nerve.8 The correct performance of the
radial and peroneal nerves.5 Other conditions that have test, as described by Phalen, is to have the patient place
been associated with a positive Tinels sign are cubital flexed elbows on a table, allow the wrists to fall freely
tunnel syndrome, radial nerve entrapment, tarsal tun- into maximum flexion, and maintain this position for
nel syndrome, superficial peroneal neuropathy, and at least 1 minute. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome
thoracic outlet syndrome.5 In each case, the positive develop numbness and tingling within 1 to 2 minutes.
sign is expressed by percussing the appropriate nerve. Healthy patients develop numbness and tingling in the
A true Tinels sign is never painful.6 Patients may territory of the median nerve when the hands are held
experience a discomfort from the tingling sensation, in the fully flexed position for 10 minutes or longer.
but the presence of pain with the elicitation of the sign Therefore, if the patient does not experience symp-
suggests another process occurring concomitantly with toms within approximately 3 minutes, the test is consid-
the nerve regeneration. ered negative.10
sign and Phalens test in carpal tunnel syndrome. 13. Stewart JD, Eisen A: Tinels sign and the carpal tunnel
Orthopedics 1992;15:12971302. syndrome. Brit Med J 1978;2:11251126.
10. Vargas-Busquets MA: Historical commentary: the wrist 14. Gelmers HJ: The significance of Tinels sign in the diag-
flexion test (Phalen sign). J Hand Surg Am 1994;19: nosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Acta Neurochir (Wien)
521. 1979;49:255258.
11. Kuhlman KA, Hennessey WJ: Sensitivity and specificity 15. Katz JN, Larson MG, Sabra A, et al: The carpal tunnel
of carpal tunnel syndrome signs. Am J Phys Med Rehabil syndrome: diagnostic utility of the history and physical
1997;76:451457. examination findings. Ann Intern Med 1990;112:321327.
12. Phalen GS: The carpal tunnel syndrome: 17 years expe- 16. Buch-Jaeger N, Foucher G: Correlation of clinical signs
rience in diagnosis and treatment of 654 hands. J Bone with nerve conduction tests in the diagnosis of carpal
Joint Surg Am 1966;48:211228. tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Br 1994;19:720 724.
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