Understanding the Trousseau's Sign Assessment
To test for potential **hypocalcemia** (low calcium levels in the blood), which can lead to neuromuscular hyperexcitability.
Watch How It's Done
How do I start?
Patient is sitting or supine.
What happens?
A **blood pressure cuff** is placed around the patient's upper arm and inflated to a pressure above the patient's systolic blood pressure for **up to three minutes**.
In Plain English
What Does a Positive Result Mean?
The onset of a **carpopedal spasm** (involuntary, painful sustained contraction of the fingers and wrist, often described as an obstetrician's hand posture).
Helpful Tip:
While not a standard physiotherapy test, a positive sign requires urgent medical attention and may explain neuromuscular symptoms like cramping and paresthesia.
Safety First
This guide is to help you understand what happens in a clinic. Do not try to diagnose yourself. If you have severe pain, swelling, or cannot put weight on your leg, please visit an urgent care center or your doctor immediately.
Other Wrist/Hand Tests
Beighton Score
To quantify **generalized joint hypermobility** (laxity) across the body. The wrist/hand components assess passive joint laxity.
Bunnell-Littler Test (or Finochietto-Bunnell Test)
To differentiate between **Intrinsic Muscle tightness** (interossei and lumbricals) and **Capsular restriction** at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
This is the **condition name** (inflammation of the APL and EPB tendons), not a specific test. The Finkelstein Test is the primary diagnostic test.
Elson Test
To assess the integrity of the **Central Slip** of the Extensor Digitorum Communis (EDC) tendon, rupture of which leads to a Boutonniere deformity.