A nurse is assessing a client who reports numbness and pain in his right palm, index finger, and middle finger. The client reports working with a keyboard most of the time while at work. The nurse suspects carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following tests should the nurse request that the client perform?
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: Holding the wrist at 90-degree flexion (Phalen’s test) reproduces numbness or pain in carpal tunnel syndrome by compressing the median nerve. This confirms the diagnosis, making it the correct test. Choice B reason: Extending the arm upward does not stress the median nerve, so it won’t elicit carpal tunnel symptoms. This is unrelated to diagnostic testing, making it incorrect. Choice C reason: Flexing the arm at the elbow does not target the wrist’s median nerve. Carpal tunnel involves wrist compression, so this test is irrelevant, making it incorrect. Choice D reason: Holding the arm straight does not provoke carpal tunnel symptoms. Phalen’s test specifically compresses the nerve, making this incorrect for diagnosing the client’s condition.