Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

What does Tinel's sign test for?

1. Fracture of the wrist

2. Damage to the radial nerve

3. Cervical spine injury

4. Carpal tunnel syndrome

The correct answer is: Carpal tunnel syndrome

Tinel's sign is primarily utilized to assess for carpal tunnel syndrome, which is characterized by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. During the Tinel's sign test, the clinician taps over the median nerve at the wrist. A positive response, which may include tingling or a sensation of "pins and needles" in the fingers innervated by the median nerve, indicates that there is likely irritation or damage to the nerve. The relevance of Tinel's sign in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome lies in its ability to detect the specific neurological involvement associated with this condition. Given that the other options focus on different types of injuries or conditions that do not directly involve the median nerve compression specifically tested by Tinel's sign, they do not provide the same diagnostic usefulness in confirming carpal tunnel syndrome.