A 35-year-old woman presents with left wrist pain and numbness. Which test result suggests carpal tunnel syndrome?

The presence of symptoms such as wrist pain and numbness, particularly if they are localized to the fingers and hand, raises the suspicion for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Phalen's test is specifically designed to help diagnose CTS. It involves flexing the wrists and holding the position for about 60 seconds; a positive result occurs when this action reproduces tingling or pain in the distribution of the median nerve, which is the nerve most commonly affected in carpal tunnel syndrome. This test directly evaluates the median nerve's function, particularly in the context of compression that occurs within the carpal tunnel.

While other tests like Tinel's sign are also indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome by evaluating for nerve irritation, Phalen's test specifically looks at how wrist flexion affects symptoms. This makes it very relevant and effective in suggesting the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome based on the symptoms described. The other tests provided, such as the Finkelstein test and the Flexion test, are not intended for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome but rather assess different conditions, such as De Quervain's tenosynovitis for the Finkelstein test.