Phalen Sign

Description

• The Phalen's Sign (Wrist Flexion Test) reproduces the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by increasing the pressure in the carpal tunnel by placing the wrists in palmar flexion.

Instructions

• With the patient's forearm in pronation, examiner will place wrist in maximum flexion (90°) for 1 minute.

• A positive result is yielded if the patient experiences exacerbation of symptoms in the Median nerve distribution ie. reports pain or paresthesias in at least one finger innervated by the median nerve.

• A negative result is yielded if the patient does not experience any exacerbation of symptoms along the median nerve distribution.

• Wrist flexion compresses median nerve thus temporarily decreasing epineural blood flow. This slight increase in ischemia can faciliate the demonstration of symptoms that otherwise might not be apparent.

Cleland, J., & Koppenhaver, S. (2011). Wrist and Hand. In Netter's orthopaedic clinical examination an evidence-based approach (2nd ed., pp. 496-497). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier.