Froment's sign

System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

Asked to hold a sheet of paper between thumb and index finger while it is pulled away, the patient bends the tip joint of the thumb to compensate for a weak thumb adductor muscle.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with ulnar nerve palsy.

◈ Behind the name

Jules Froment (1878–1946), French neurologist.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.