Execution
- 1Position the patient sitting with the forearm supported.
- 2Ask the patient to maximally flex the wrist.
- 3Keep the wrist in maximal flexion.
- 4Ask the patient to abduct the thumb against examiner resistance.
- 5Record reproduction of radial styloid pain or crepitus.
Positive outcome
Reproduction of the patient’s symptoms, such as pain or crepitus over the first dorsal compartment, is positive. Magee describes this as positive for tendinitis of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus. It is designed to be a more targeted de Quervain provocation than Eichhoff.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goubau et al. (2014) | NA | 99 | 29 | 1.39 | 0.03 |
CommentWHAT is highly sensitive in Goubau’s study, but specificity was only 29%, so the low LR+ limits rule-in strength. Its low LR- makes it more useful for reducing suspicion when negative in the right clinical setting. The study used ultrasound comparison and a de Quervain cohort, so generalization to all radial wrist pain should be cautious.
Moderate Clinical Value