U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Froment sign

MedGen UID:
713325
Concept ID:
C1290999
Sign or Symptom
Synonyms: Froment thumb sign; Froment's sign
SNOMED CT: Froment sign (26680000); Froment's sign (26680000)
 
HPO: HP:0032121

Definition

An abnormal result of a physical examination of the the hand that tests for palsy of the ulnar nerve. This nerve innervates the adductor pollicis and interossei muscles and thereby enables adduction of the thumb and extension of the interphalangeal joint. An abnormal result consists in reduced functionality and muscular weakness in the pinch grip between the thumb and index finger of the affected hand as the patient attempts to pinch a piece of paper that the examiner tries to pull away. The flexor pollicis longus muscle tries to compensate for the weakness by flexing the tip of the thumb at the interphalangeal joint. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Hereditary liability to pressure palsies
MedGen UID:
98291
Concept ID:
C0393814
Disease or Syndrome
Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is characterized by recurrent acute sensory and motor neuropathy in a single or multiple nerves. The most common initial manifestation is the acute onset of a non-painful focal sensory and motor neuropathy in a single nerve (mononeuropathy). The first attack usually occurs in the second or third decade but earlier onset is possible. Neuropathic pain is increasingly recognized as a common manifestation. Recovery from acute neuropathy is usually complete; when recovery is not complete, the resulting disability is mild. Some affected individuals also demonstrate a mild-to-moderate peripheral neuropathy.
Spinocerebellar ataxia 50
MedGen UID:
1824045
Concept ID:
C5774272
Disease or Syndrome
Spinocerebellar ataxia-50 (SCA50) is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, oculomotor apraxia and other eye movement abnormalities, and cerebellar atrophy on brain imaging. Most patients develop symptoms as adults, although childhood onset has rarely been reported. Additional more variable features may include tremor, dysarthria, dysphagia, and cognitive impairment with executive dysfunction (Coutelier et al., 2022; Schoggl et al., 2022).
Neurodevelopmental disorder with early-onset parkinsonism and behavioral abnormalities
MedGen UID:
1857802
Concept ID:
C5935590
Disease or Syndrome
Neurodevelopmental disorder with early-onset parkinsonism and behavioral abnormalities (NEDPBA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by delayed developmental milestones apparent in late infancy or early childhood, impaired intellectual development with learning difficulties, and behavioral abnormalities. Motor abnormalities, including parkinsonism and spasticity, usually develop in the third or fourth decades, although earlier onset has been reported. Some patients have seizures. There is inter- and intrafamilial variability (Kuipers et al., 2018; Al-Kasbi et al., 2021).

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Bertelli JA, Tavares KE
Hand Surg Rehabil 2018 Dec;37(6):368-371. Epub 2018 Oct 23 doi: 10.1016/j.hansur.2018.09.006. PMID: 30361046
Schnabl SM, Kisslinger F, Schramm A, Dragu A, Kneser U, Unglaub F, Horch RE
Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2010 Dec;130(12):1549-56. Epub 2010 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s00402-010-1160-x. PMID: 20730441

Diagnosis

Mota PTD, Maio M, Sapage R, Branco C, Pintado C
JBJS Case Connect 2018 Oct-Dec;8(4):e95. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.18.00132. PMID: 30489379
Bertelli JA, Tavares KE
Hand Surg Rehabil 2018 Dec;37(6):368-371. Epub 2018 Oct 23 doi: 10.1016/j.hansur.2018.09.006. PMID: 30361046
Koehler PJ
Front Neurol Neurosci 2016;38:43-55. Epub 2016 Apr 1 doi: 10.1159/000442568. PMID: 27035152

Prognosis

Schnabl SM, Kisslinger F, Schramm A, Dragu A, Kneser U, Unglaub F, Horch RE
Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2010 Dec;130(12):1549-56. Epub 2010 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s00402-010-1160-x. PMID: 20730441

Clinical prediction guides

Koehler PJ
Front Neurol Neurosci 2016;38:43-55. Epub 2016 Apr 1 doi: 10.1159/000442568. PMID: 27035152

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Consumer resources

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...