Tinel's Sign at the wrist is most commonly used to screen for which condition?

• A. Cubital tunnel syndrome
• B. Trigger finger
• C. De Quervain's syndrome
• D. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer: (D)

Tinel's sign at the wrist assesses irritation of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel. Tapping over the carpal tunnel can elicit tingling or electric shocks in the median nerve distribution (thumb, index, middle finger, and the radial half of the ring finger) if compression is present. This pattern points to carpal tunnel syndrome, where the median nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel. Other options involve different anatomical locations or conditions and use different tests (for example, cubital tunnel syndrome implicates the elbow region for the ulnar nerve, while trigger finger and De Quervain’s syndrome are diagnosed with tests specific to finger pulley mechanisms and the first dorsal compartment, respectively). So the wrist tapping sign is most consistent with screening for carpal tunnel syndrome.