Effect of Wrist Joint Angle on the Examination of Hoffmann's Sign

Abstract Objective To study the effect of different wrist flexion and extension angles on the results of Hoffmann’s sign.Methods Thirty-seven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and fifty objectives as control group were examinated at 15° palmar flexion, 0° neutral, 30° back extension, and 60° back extension of the wrist joint to observe Hoffmann's sign.ResultsThe patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy did not present significantly different results of Hoffmann’s sign at 0° neutral, 30° back extension, and 60° back extension, but significantly different at 15° palmar flexion (P<0.05). In control group, there is no significant difference at 15° palmar flexion, 0° neutral, 30° back extension, but significantly different at 60° back extension (p<0.05).ConclusionThe different angles of wrist flexion and extension present a significant impact on the results of Hoffmann’s sign examination. For the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, it is reliable to test Hoffmann’s sign at 30° wrist back extension.