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Harry Finkelstein, an American surgeon, described the Finkelstein's test or Finkelstein's sign in 1930. It is a provocative test for diagnosis of De Quervain disease that can easily be performed in an office setting or at the bedside. This activity reviews the indications, contraindications, and clinical relevance of the Finkelstein sign and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in managing patients with hand and wrist problems. Objectives: Describe how the Finklestein sign is evaluated. Review the indications for the Finklestein test. Summarize the clinical relevance of the Finklestein test. Outline the physiology behind a positive Finklestein test. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Harry Finkelstein, an American surgeon (1865–1939), described the Finkelstein's test or Finkelstein's sign in 1930. It is a provocative test for diagnosis of De Quervain’s disease that can easily be performed in an office setting or at the bedside.[1] Finkelstein's test produces severe tenderness and usually pain on the radial aspect of the wrist when the thumb is flexed into the palm and the wrist is ulnar deviated.  De Quervain's disease is commonly associated with the repetitive motions that place stress on the wrist; it is ommonly associated with professions such as restaurant servers. Moreover, De Quervain's disease is significantly more likely to occur in females.

The Finkelstein test should be performed only by a trained medical professional (physician or nurse) who have adequate knowledge about the anatomy of the compartments of the wrist and understand the clinical significance of the outcomes of this test. However, it is important to remember that this test is not 100% sensitive for De Quervain tenosynovitis and if there is doubt about the diagnosis, the patient should obtain a referral to a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. As missing the diagnosis can have untoward consequences, a team approach is best to evaluate patients. [Level V]