Peer-reviewed research
Clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: old tests-new concepts
Yasser El Miedany et al., Joint Bone Spine, 2008 · DOI 10.1016/j.jbspin.2007.09.014
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- A study of 232 patients with carpal tunnel symptoms and 182 controls that compared provocative tests with nerve conduction studies and ultrasound, and reported test sensitivity for carpal tunnel syndrome and for tenosynovitis.
- How much weight it carries
- Peer-reviewed. Its sensitivity figures for Phalen's test are lower than those in the 2004 systematic review, which shows how much results vary between studies. Diagnosis in the study followed American Academy of Neurology criteria.
Facts taken from this source
- In a 2008 study of 232 patients with carpal tunnel symptoms, Phalen's test had a sensitivity of 47 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome, against 92 percent for tenosynovitis.
“Sensitivity of Tinel's, Phalen's, Reverse Phalen's and carpal tunnel compression tests was higher for the diagnosis of tenosynovitis than for the diagnosis of CTS (Tinel, 46% vs. 30%; Phalen's, 92% vs. 47%; Reverse Phalen's, 75% vs. 42%; carpal tunnel compression test, 95% vs. 46%).” (Results)