Carpal tunnel syndrome. An evaluation of the provocative diagnostic

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tests. Gellman-H; Gelberman-RH; Tan-AM; Botte-MJ J-Bone-Joint-Surg-Am. 1986 Jun; 68(5): 735-7 In order to evaluate the usefulness of provocative tests (wrist-flexion test, nerve-percussion test, and tourniquet test) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, the results of provocative testing were evaluated in a group of patients (sixty-seven hands) with electrodiagnostically proved carpal-tunnel syndrome and in a group of fifty control subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of each test were calculated. The wrist-flexion test was found to be the most sensitive while the nerve-percussion test, although least sensitive, was most specific. The tourniquet test was quite insensitive and not very specific, and should not be used as a routine screening test in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.