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Title: Froments Sign

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: ulnar nerve, entrapment (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/13/2013 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

Tests for distal ulnar nerve entrapment

Ask patient to hold a piece of paper between the thumb and the index finger

Normally this is a fairly simple task.

With an unlar nerve palsy, the patient will substitute with the FPL (flexor pollicis longus - median nerve innervation). This causes flexion of the thumb in order to maintain the grip since the adductor pollicis cannot be used. This causes thumb flexion rather than extension.

 

http://www.mims.com/resources/drugs/common/CP0042.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTIhm1VfSI


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