Execution
- 1Position the patient sitting or standing with the wrist and forearm in neutral.
- 2Identify the depression between the ulnar styloid and flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.
- 3Press the thumb or finger into the ulnar fovea against the lunate / triquetral region.
- 4Compare tenderness with the unaffected side.
- 5Interpret the finding with DRUJ stability and other ulnar-sided wrist tests.
Positive outcome
Reproduction of the patient’s pain or marked tenderness compared with the other side is positive. Magee describes the test as a way to differentiate ulnotriquetral ligament tear, lunotriquetral instability, triquetrum / hamate pathology, or foveal TFCC disruption. Foveal TFCC disruption is often associated with DRUJ instability.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tay et al. (2007) | NA | 95.2 | 86.5 | 7.05 | 0.06 |
| Schmauss et al. (2016) | NA | 73-76 | 41-44 | NA | NA |
| Yang et al. (2021) | NA | 89 | 48 | 1.71 | 0.23 |
CommentTay’s original values are stronger than later large-cohort results, where specificity falls substantially. The sign is clinically useful because it localizes ulnar foveal tenderness, but it can be positive in more than one ulnar-sided pathology. Interpret alongside DRUJ stability and imaging / arthroscopy when surgical decisions are being made.
Moderate Clinical Value