Durkan's test is a medical procedure to diagnose a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a new variation of Tinel's sign that was proposed by JA Durkan in 1991.

Process

Examiner presses thumbs over carpal tunnel and holds pressure for 30 seconds. An onset of pain or

paresthesia Paresthesia is an abnormal sensation of the skin (tingling, pricking, chilling, burning, numbness) with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesia may be transient or chronic, and may have any of dozens of possible underlying causes. Paresthesias ar ...

in the median nerve distribution within 30 seconds is a positive result of the test.

Accuracy

In studies of diagnostic accuracy, the sensitivity of Durkan's test ranged from 87% to 91% and its specificity from 90% to 95%.

Comparison

Durkan's test is more sensitive than

Tinel's sign Tinel's sign (also Hoffmann-Tinel sign) is a way to detect irritated nerves. It is performed by lightly tapping ( percussing) over the nerve to elicit a sensation of tingling or "pins and needles" in the distribution of the nerve. Percussion is usu ...

and

Phalen maneuver Phalen's maneuver is a diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome by an American orthopedist named George S. Phalen. Technique The patient is asked to hold their Wrist, wrists in complete and forced flexion (pushing the dorsal surfaces of bot ...

References

{{Orthopedic examination , state=autocollapse Diagnostic neurology Physical examination