Your pregnant patient is at 8 weeks' gestation and complains of pain that radiates from the wrist into the fingers in the right hand.She is a computer programmer and uses a keyboard daily for 6 hours or more.The clinician should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the options are appropriate for evaluating the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome. Phalen's sign is a test in which the dorsal surface of the hands is placed together to check for wrist pain, while Tinel's sign is performed by tapping on the patient's wrist to try to elicit tingling in the fingers. It is important to educate the patient that carpal tunnel syndrome is common during pregnancy and can be exacerbated by activities such as prolonged computer use to help prevent further symptoms.

Your Pregnant Patient Is at 8 Weeks' Gestation and Complains