Kanavel's cardinal signs
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| Kanavel's cardinal signs | |
|---|---|
| Differential diagnosis | flexor tendon sheath infection |
Kanavel's sign is a clinical sign found in patients with infection of a flexor tendon sheath in the hand (pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis), a serious condition which can cause rapid loss of function of the affected finger.[1]
The sign consists of four components:[2]
- the affected finger is held in slight flexion.
- there is fusiform swelling over the affected tendon.
- there is tenderness over the affected tendon.
- there is pain on passive extension of the affected finger.
The sign is named after Allen B. Kanavel who first described them in 1912.[3]
References
- ^ "Medscape". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "Wheeless Online". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ Infection, An Issue of Orthopedic Clinics. Elsevier Health Sciences. 2017. ISBN 9780323524186.
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