A 34-year-old woman with right arm pain and hand numbness may benefit from which special test?

• A. Apley compression test
• B. Thompson test
• C. Phalen test
• D. Finkelstein test

Answer: (C)

The Phalen test is specifically designed to assess for carpal tunnel syndrome, which is characterized by symptoms such as hand numbness and pain in the wrist and fingers. In this case, the patient’s right arm pain and hand numbness suggest possible median nerve involvement, commonly associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

During the Phalen test, the patient flexes the wrists by placing the backs of the hands together and holding that position for about 30 to 60 seconds. If the patient experiences tingling or numbness in the distribution of the median nerve (typically the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger), it is considered a positive test.

This test is particularly useful and relevant for the symptoms presented by the patient, as it directly evaluates the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome, making it the most appropriate choice among the options provided.

The other tests listed assess different conditions. The Apley compression test is used to evaluate meniscus tears in the knee joint. The Thompson test assesses for Achilles tendon ruptures. The Finkelstein test is used to diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, which typically causes pain over the thumb and wrist during specific movements. Thus, these tests do not directly