Therefore, when a test comes along that has a significantly higher sensitivity and specificity percentage than the usual Phalen and Tinel tests, it's worthwhile learning. Remember the definitions of sensitivity and specificity as it has become a standard way of expressing the validity of diagnostic tests. Sensitivity is synonymous for the true positive rate.2 True positives are patients with the disease and a positive test result. For example, an MRI might show a herniated disc associated with an absent Achilles' reflex.
Specificity refers to the true negative rate.
Tetro et al.,3 felt that by combining wrist flexion with direct compression over the median nerve at the carpal tunnel, there would be an increase in the local ischemia to the median nerve to cause rapid and reproducible symptoms. The wrist flexion-nerve compression test is performed with the elbow extended, the forearm in supination and the wrist flexed to its end range. During examination, the wrist should be passively flexed to a painless end range that is not inhibited by other problems with the patient's wrist. Even, constant digital pressure is then applied with one thumb over the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. The test was considered positive with parasthesiae or numbness occurring in the distribution of the median nerve when symptoms occurred within 20 seconds.