Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Finger flexion sign for ulnar neuropathy

A Tsujino¹, M F Macnicol

¹Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh, UK.

Journal of Hand Surgery (Edinburgh, Scotland)

|June 2, 1998

Summary

A new diagnostic sign for ulnar neuropathy helps detect early muscle weakness. This simple test assesses interossei muscle function, aiding in timely diagnosis and management of nerve conditions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A little-known aspect of Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930): the call of India and a debt to Walter Scott (1771-1832).

Journal of medical biography·2009

Same author

New insights into function of the growth plate: clinical observations, chondrocyte enlargement and a possible role for membrane transporters.

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume·2008

Same author

Novel congenital myasthenic syndromes associated with defects in quantal release.

Neurology·2006

Same author

Spectrum of splicing errors caused by CHRNE mutations affecting introns and intron/exon boundaries.

Journal of medical genetics·2005

Same author

Management of congenital talipes equino varus in Scotland: a nationwide audit.

The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland·2004

Same author

Pelvic remodelling after the Chiari osteotomy. A long-term review.

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume·2004

Area of Science:

Neurology
Orthopedics
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background:

Ulnar neuropathy is a common nerve condition affecting hand function.
Early diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy is crucial for effective treatment.
Existing diagnostic signs may not always detect subtle, early-stage muscle weakness.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and describe a novel diagnostic sign for early detection of ulnar neuropathy.
To evaluate the utility of this sign in assessing interossei muscle function.
To compare the mechanism of this sign with established clinical tests like Froment's sign.

Main Methods:

A clinical test involving a sheet of paper held between the fingers was employed.
Patients were asked to adduct fingers against examiner's pull to assess interossei function.
Observation focused on metacarpophalangeal joint flexion as an indicator of muscle recruitment.

Main Results:

The described maneuver effectively reveals weakness in the interossei muscles.
Increased metacarpophalangeal joint flexion on the affected side indicates muscle recruitment due to weakness.
This sign demonstrates sensitivity in detecting early-stage ulnar neuropathy.

Conclusions:

The reported diagnostic sign provides a simple and effective method for identifying early ulnar neuropathy.
This test aids in the early detection of muscle weakness, facilitating prompt clinical intervention.
The sign's mechanism is analogous to Froment's sign, offering a complementary diagnostic tool.

Related Experiment Videos