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Glossary Investigation

Intrinsic tightness test

Also known as Bunnell test Finochietto-Bunnell test Bunnell intrinsic tightness test

Bunnell's test for tightness of the intrinsic muscles: passive flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint is compared with the metacarpophalangeal joint held in extension and in flexion. Less proximal interphalangeal flexion with the metacarpophalangeal joint extended indicates tight intrinsics, because extension of that joint stretches the lumbrical and interosseous tendons; the reverse pattern indicates tight extrinsic extensors.

Articles mentioning this term

  1. FESSH preparation

    Clinical examination of the hand and wrist

    Hand and wrist examination for FESSH candidates: how accurate the Phalen, Tinel, scratch collapse, Elson, Watson, grind, fovea and Allen tests really are.

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