Physical Exam

Finkelstein Test

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

Grasp the patient's thumb and quickly move the hand into ulnar deviation (toward the little-finger side). A positive test is sharp pain over the radial styloid.

How to Interpret

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

Positive Finkelstein test

Rule in

Not helpful

Rule out

Not helpful

Evidence:Limited

References

Goubau JF, Goubau L, Van Tongel A, Van Hoonacker P, Kerckhove D, Berghs B. The wrist hyperflexion and abduction of the thumb (WHAT) test: a more specific and sensitive test to diagnose de Quervain tenosynovitis than the Eichhoff's Test. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2014;39(3):286-292. PMID 23340762. DOI 10.1177/1753193412475043. [Prospective cohort, n=100 radial-styloid-pain patients, ULTRASOUND reference (93 US+/7 US-); the EICHHOFF test (= the maneuver clinically mislabeled 'Finkelstein'): accuracy 0.84, LR+ 1.04, LR- 0.75 (full-text Table 2; non-discriminating). The WHAT test (a different maneuver): sens 0.99/spec 0.29/PPV 0.95/NPV 0.67/accuracy 0.94 (abstract). Eichhoff sens/spec/CIs are full-text -> needs_full_text.]
Finkelstein H. Stenosing tendovaginitis at the radial styloid process. J Bone Joint Surg. 1930;12(3):509-540.