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Flick Sign

From WikiSM

Other Names

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Example of the flick sign[1]
Illustration of the flick sign[2]
  • Flick Sign
  • Wrist Flick Sign
  • Hand Flick Test
  • Carpal Tunnel Flick Test
  • Thermometer Flick Sign

Purpose

Description

  • When asking the patient "What do you do with your hands when the symptoms are at their worst?"
  • The patient will demonstrate a flicking movement of the wrist and hand
  • Similar to that used in shaking down a thermometer

Pathology

Evidence

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Pryse-Phillips et al[3]
    • Sensitivity: 93%
    • Specificity 96%
    • LR+: 21.4
    • LR-: 0.1

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Simpson, Marion A., and Bruce Day. "Painful numb hands." Medical journal of Australia 195.7 (2011): 388-391.
  2. ↑ Image courtesy of nielasher.com
  3. ↑ Pryse-Phillips WE. Validation of a diagnostic sign in carpal tunnel syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1984 Aug;47(8):870-2. PubMed PMID: 6470728; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1027954.
Created by:
John Kiel on 10 October 2019 14:59:13
Authors:
Last edited:
10 November 2025 11:21:46
Category:
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