Rosh Internal Medicine Boost Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A positive Tinel's sign indicates the presence of nerve irritation or injury, particularly associated with the conditions involving peripheral nerves. In the context of carpal tunnel syndrome, a positive Tinel's sign is specifically elicited by tapping over the median nerve at the wrist, where the nerve is compressed as it passes under the transverse carpal ligament. When the median nerve is compressed, tapping can produce tingling, paresthesia, or pain in the distribution of the nerve, confirming the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

While Tinel's sign can be applied to assess other nerves, such as the ulnar nerve or radial nerve, its most common association and the one that best embodies a positive finding in the context of the question is indeed carpal tunnel syndrome. In this case, the typical symptoms experienced by patients, including sensory disturbances in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring fingers, correlate with the positive Tinel's sign, hence making this choice the most accurate.