Which condition does Froment's Sign help to identify?

Froment's Sign is a physical examination maneuver utilized primarily to assess the function of the ulnar nerve, particularly involving the adductor pollicis muscle, which is innervated by this nerve. When a clinician performs this test, they usually ask the patient to hold a piece of paper between the thumb and the index finger while the clinician attempts to pull the paper away. If the patient compensates by flexing the thumb at the interphalangeal joint, this indicates weakness or paralysis of the adductor pollicis, suggesting ulnar nerve involvement.

In cases of ulnar nerve pathology, patients often exhibit difficulty in adducting the thumb due to the impaired function of the muscles that are typically responsible for this action. As a result, positive Froment's Sign serves as a clinical marker for assessing ulnar nerve integrity and may indicate conditions such as cubital tunnel syndrome or other forms of ulnar nerve entrapment.

Understanding Froment's Sign and its relevance to ulnar nerve pathology is important for clinicians when evaluating hand function and diagnosing potential nerve injuries, thereby aiding in appropriate treatment and rehabilitation strategies.