What does a positive Finkelstein's Test indicate?

A positive Finkelstein's Test is specifically indicative of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, which is a condition that affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. In this test, the patient makes a fist with the thumb tucked inside the fingers and then the wrist is ulnarly deviated. If this maneuver elicits pain over the radial styloid process, it suggests inflammation of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons, which is characteristic of De Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Understanding this condition is particularly important for diagnosing patients who present with wrist pain that radiates into the thumb, often exacerbated by specific movements involving the thumb. This context also helps differentiate it from other conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, which is associated with median nerve compression, or tendinitis of the elbow, which is unrelated to the Finkelstein's Test specifically. Likewise, a wrist fracture would not elicit a positive Finkelstein's Test, as it involves different structures and would typically present with distinct physical findings.