Provocative test for carpal tunnel syndrome.

A new clinical provocative test for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is described. The examiner uses his or her fingers to simultaneously exert dorsal pressure on the first metacarpal and pisotriquetral complex and volar pressure on the lunate. The test result is considered positive if symptoms of CTS are reproduced. Thirty-four patients (41 hands) with carpal CTS and 21 control subjects (41 hands) were evaluated. The sensitivity of the suggested provocative test was 98%, the specificity was 98%, the positive predictive value was 98%, and the negative predictive value was 98%. These data support the use of the provocative test for CTS.