Which tests are used to evaluate carpal tunnel syndrome?

• A. Phalen's Test
• B. Tinel's Sign
• C. Carpal Compression Test
• D. Tinel's, Phalen's Tests

Answer: (D)

Tests used to evaluate carpal tunnel syndrome rely on provocative maneuvers that stress the median nerve at the wrist. Phalen's test and Tinel's sign are classic because each taps into different ways the nerve can be irritated. Phalen's test asks the patient to hold the wrists in full flexion, which can reproduce numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger if CTS is present. Tinel's sign involves tapping directly over the carpal tunnel; a tingling or shocking sensation in the same median-nerve distribution indicates compression.

Using both tests together provides a broader assessment: some patients may only show symptoms with one maneuver, while others may show both. A single test like the Carpal Compression Test exists, but the combination of Tinel's and Phalen's tests is the most classic and widely used approach to evaluate CTS in clinical practice.