Hand and Upper Extremity

Intra- and Inter-Examiner Variability in Performing Tinel’s Test

Lifchez SD, Means KR Jr, Dunn RE, et al (Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD; Raymond M. Curtis Natl Hand Ctr, Baltimore, MD; Medstar Res Ctr, Baltimore, MD; et al) J Hand Surg 35A:212-216, 2010^§

D.J. Smith, Jr., MD

Evidence Ranking

• C

Expert Rating

• 2

Abstract

Purpose

The Tinel sign was adopted in the early 1950s to detect sites of nerve compression. There have been few attempts to standardize how one elicits Tinel’s sign. The goal of this study was to evaluate intra- and inter-examiner variability in the force generated using different techniques to elicit Tinel’s sign.