Final answer:
To diagnose Bill's potential carpal tunnel syndrome, the doctor could use Phalen's test, Tinel's sign, or Durkan's test, but not Finkelstein's test as it diagnoses a different condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Bill is experiencing a tingling sensation in the lateral portion of his hand and the doctor suspects carpal tunnel syndrome, several tests can be performed to diagnose this condition:
- Phalen's test: This involves asking the patient to flex their wrists and press the backs of their hands against each other for about 60 seconds to see if this causes tingling or numbness in the fingers.
- Tinel's sign: The doctor taps over the median nerve at the wrist to see if it produces a tingling sensation in the fingers.
- Durkan's test, also known as the carpal compression test, involves applying direct pressure over the carpal tunnel to see if it elicits symptoms.
- Finkelstein's test is used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis, not carpal tunnel syndrome, and therefore would not be appropriate for diagnosing Bill's condition.
In this scenario, the doctor might try Phalen's test, Tinel's sign, or Durkan's test to confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.