For many wrist pathologies, a good physical exam is more helpful in determining the diagnosis than expensive imaging studies. However, it is imperative to have a thorough knowledge of wrist anatomy in order to correlate anatomical knowledge with specific pathologies. When performing a physical exam of the wrist it is helpful to approach the exam in a systematic way and compartmentalize the wrist based on anatomic regions. There are several physical exam manoeuvres and tests that can be performed to help in the diagnosis of specific wrist conditions. An anatomically based approach to wrist palpation will be presented followed by a discussion of common wrist problems that present to hand surgeons.
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