Wrist & Hand
Bone & Joint
Evidence: suggestive
Scaphoid Compression Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Scaphoid Fracture.
How to Perform
- Action: Examiner holds the patient's thumb and applies an axial compression force along the metacarpal towards the scaphoid.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain in the scaphoid region.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Scaphoid Compression Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Wrist & Hand region, combining the Scaphoid Compression Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
