Tinel's sign
| Tinel's sign | |
|---|---|
| Transverse section across the wrist and digits. (The median nerve is the yellow dot near the center. The carpal tunnel is not labeled, but the circular structure surrounding the median nerve is visible.) | |
| A photograph conveying Tinel's sign being performed on the left foot to support the diagnosis of morton's neuroma. | |
| Specialty | Neurology, Plastic surgery |
| Differential diagnosis | Peripheral neuropathy, Radiculopathy, Plexopathy |
Tinel's sign (also Hoffmann-Tinel sign) is a way to detect irritated nerves. It is performed by lightly tapping (percussing) over the nerve to elicit a sensation of tingling or "pins and needles" in the distribution of the nerve. Percussion is usually performed moving distal to proximal. It is named after Jules Tinel.
It is a potential sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome and symptomatic neuroma.