Wrist & hand: examination tests with their numbers
12 tests from the book, each with the published accuracy figures that exist for it, and what a positive and a negative result mean.
- Anatomical snuffbox tendernessLR+ 1.79 · LR− 0.2 · Treat with caution
- Carpal compression test (Durkan's test)LR+ 3.76 · LR− 0.43 · A weak test on its own
- Phalen's testLR+ 1.71 · LR− 0.65 · A weak test on its own
- Piano key test (Sachar)LR+ not calculable (specificity 100%) · LR− 0.88 · A weak test on its own
- Reverse Phalen's testLR+ 0.91 · LR− 1.07 · A weak test on its own
- Scaphoid shift (Watson) testLR+ 2.27 · LR− 0.64 · A weak test on its own
- Scaphoid tubercle tenderness / axial thumb compression testLR+ 1.4 · LR− 0.7 · A weak test on its own
- TFCC grind/load testLR+ 3.5 · LR− 0.58 · A weak test on its own
- Thumb CMC grind testLR+ not calculable (specificity 100%) · LR− 0.36 · Rule-in strength not calculable (no false positives seen)
- Tinel's sign (at the wrist)LR+ 2.05 · LR− 0.71 · A weak test on its own
- Ulnar fovea signLR+ 1.71 · LR− 0.23 · A weak test on its own
- WHAT test (wrist hyperflexion + abduction of the thumb)LR+ 1.39 · LR− 0.03 · Treat with caution
Get the book for how to do and read each wrist and hand test with published figures, and which carpal tunnel test to trust
These pages give the published figures. Rule It In, Rule It Out adds, for every test with published figures in the chapter ‘The wrist and hand’: how to do it, what counts as positive, how to read the result, and, where studied, whether combining tests helps.
Coming in late 2026 as a PDF and a paperback. Join the list to hear when it's out
One study, one test, once a month
Rule It In is a free evidence letter for musculoskeletal clinicians: one recent study explained, one examination test with its real numbers. From Trokos, publisher of Rule It In, Rule It Out.