Finkelstein’s Test
Other Known Aliases – Eichoff’s test
Definition – physical examination maneuver that is used to diagnose de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Clinical Significance – this maneuver is performed by deviating the wrist in the ulnar direction while pushing the thumb towards the palm. A positive illicits pain along the radial aspect of the wrist along the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons.
History – Named after Henry Finkelstein (1883-1975), who was an American surgeon and recieved his medical doctorate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1904. He would go on to have a modest career in orthopaedic surgery serving as a consultant at Beth Israel Hospital and chief of orthopaedic surgery at Trinity Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He also was one of the original founding staff of the Hospital for Joint Diseases (now known as NYU Langone Orthopaedic Hospital). He published his eponymous maneuver in a manuscript entitled “Stenosing tendovaginitis at the radial styloid process” in 1930.
References
- Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
- Bartolucci S, Forbis P. Stedman’s Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD; LWW. 2005.
- Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012). Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software]. Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com.
- Whonamedit – dictionary of medical eponyms. http://www.whonamedit.com
- Up To Date. www.uptodate.com
- Finkelstein H. Stenosing tendovaginitis at the radial styloid process. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1930, 12: 509-540 [link]
- https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/25/archives/dr-harry-finkelstein-91-orthopedic-surgeon-dies.html
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