College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What pathology does the Finkelstein's Test specifically target?

1. Tendinitis of the wrist

2. De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis

3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

4. Wrist Fracture

The correct answer is: De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Finkelstein's Test specifically targets De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis, which is a condition involving inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. This test is performed by having the patient make a fist with the thumb tucked inside the fingers, then ulnarly deviating the wrist. If there is pain along the radial side of the wrist, particularly at the base of the thumb, it indicates irritation or inflammation of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, which are often involved in De-Quervain's Tenosynovitis. The other conditions listed do not directly relate to the specific mechanics tested by Finkelstein's Test. For instance, while tendinitis of the wrist may involve various tendons, it does not isolate the specific tendon pathology that De-Quervain's signifies. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome primarily affects the median nerve rather than tendon issues and would not result in a positive Finkelstein's Test. Lastly, a wrist fracture would typically involve different clinical assessments to determine the presence of a fracture rather than tendon inflammation, and is not specifically indicated by the results of this test.