Froment’s Sign

Special Test for Ulnar nerve motor function

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

“This is more of a sign than a test and may present as a complaint from the patient who reports an inability to pinch between the index finger and the thumb without flexion occurring at the DIP joint (Fig. 18-70).”¹

Mechanism

Ulnar nerve lesion, resulting in weakness of Adductor pollicis brevis and FPB Short head muscles¹. The weakness of these two, causes the FPL to become overactive and flex the DIP.

Scoring

A Positive Froment Sign occurs when the patient cannot keep their thumb adducted during the pinch.

Interpretation

Positive test indicates an ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow or at the wrist¹.

References

1.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.