Final answer:
A painful Finkelstein's sign is indicative of deQuervain's tenosynovitis, a form of tendinitis affecting the tendons on the radial side of the wrist.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you elicit a painful Finkelstein's sign, you are testing for deQuervain's tenosynovitis. This test is performed by asking the patient to make a fist with the fingers closed over the thumb and then ulnar deviate the wrist. If sharp pain is felt over the tendons on the radial side of the wrist, it suggests deQuervain's tenosynovitis. Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon and can occur in various parts of the body due to repetitive movement and overuse, leading to an inflammatory response and, in severe cases, can result in the need for surgical repair due to a tendon tearing loose.