Tinel's sign
Tinel's Sign
Tinel's Sign (/tiːˈnɛl/; French: [tinɛl]), also known as Tinel's phenomenon or Hoffmann-Tinel sign, is a medical sign used in the physical examination of a patient's peripheral nerves. The sign is named after French neurologist Jules Tinel (1879–1952).
Etymology
The term "Tinel's Sign" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Jules Tinel. The term "sign" in this context refers to an observable indication of a medical condition that can be discerned by a healthcare professional during a physical examination.
Definition
Tinel's Sign is elicited by lightly tapping (percussing) over the skin above a nerve to elicit a sensation of tingling or "pins and needles" in the distribution of the nerve. It is most commonly used to identify irritated nerves, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Procedure
The healthcare provider taps lightly on the skin over the nerve with a reflex hammer. If the test is positive, the patient will experience a tingling sensation in the area served by the nerve. The test is often performed on the wrist in patients suspected of having carpal tunnel syndrome.
Related Terms
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: A medical condition due to compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel.
- Phalen's maneuver: Another test used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Peripheral neuropathy: A result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tinel's sign
- Wikipedia's article - Tinel's sign
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