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Glossary Investigation

Kanavel signs

Also known as Kanavel's signs Kanavel's cardinal signs

The four cardinal signs of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis: fusiform swelling of the digit, a semi-flexed resting posture, tenderness along the flexor tendon sheath and pain on passive extension. Individually they are 91–97 per cent sensitive but only 51–69 per cent specific against other finger infections; sheath tenderness, pain on passive extension and symptoms of under five days are the independent predictors of a sheath infection.

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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