. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Mar 23.

Published in final edited form as: J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2015 Feb 10;40(7):720–728. doi: 10.1177/1753193415570248

Table 1.

Kanavel signs used to diagnose acute flexor tenosynovitis

	Sign
1.	Fusiform swelling of the affected finger
2.	Tenderness along the course of the tendon sheath
3.	Digit held in semi-flexed posture
4.	Pain on passive extension of the affected digit

Adapted from:

1. Kanavel A. The symptoms, signs and diagnosis of tenosynovitis and major fascial space abscesses. 6 ed: Lea & Febiger; 1933.

2. Boles SD, Schmidt CC. Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis. Hand Clin 1998;14:567-578.

3. Draeger RW, Bynum DK, Jr. Flexor tendon sheath infections of the hand. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2012;20:373-382.