Watson's test

Watson's test is a diagnostic test for instability between the scaphoid and lunate bones of the wrist.

Test procedure

To perform the test, the examiner grasps the wrist with their thumb over the patient's scaphoid tuberosity which is on the palmar side of the wrist (i.e. the same side as the palm). For the test, the wrist needs to be in slight dorsiflexion.The patient's wrist is then moved from ulnar to radial deviation. The examiner will feel a significant 'clunk' and the patient will experience pain if the test is positive. For completeness, the test must be performed to both wrists for comparison. If the scapholunate ligament is disrupted, the scaphoid will tend to flex to the palm of the hand and the lunate will face to the dorsal (back) side of the hand. This procedure reproduces the subluxation.

Uses

Watson's test is used by physicians to diagnose scapholunate instability.

See also

• Carpus (commonly known as the wrist bones)
• Orthopedic surgery

References

Forman, T.; Forman, S. & Rose, N. (1 November 2005), "A clinical approach to diagnosing wrist pain" (Subscription required), American Family Physician 72 (9): 1753–8, PMID 16300037, http://www.mdconsult.com/das/article/body/175331613-2/jorg=journal&source=&sp=15848991&sid=0/N/504090/1.html?issn=0002-838X 

Nagle, D. (2000), "Evaluation of chronic wrist pain" (Subscription required), The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 8 (1): 45–55, PMID 10666652, http://www.jaaos.org/cgi/content/full/8/1/45 

External links

• Watson's test: A WikiDoc article on the same subject.
• 'Watson test': An entry from Wheeless's Textbook of Orthopaedics.

This article uses text from the Watson's test article on WikiDoc.