Tinel's sign in peripheral nerve injuries is defined as tingling sensations elicited by tapping along the course of a regenerating nerve. Its progressive distal migration after nerve injury or repair indicates:
- A Advancing axonal regeneration and sprouting distally, with the sign moving towards the target organ ✓
- B Advancing Wallerian degeneration distal to the injury
- C Proximal propagation of reinnervation towards the spinal cord
- D Failure of nerve repair, indicating re-operation is needed
Correct answer: A. Advancing axonal regeneration and sprouting distally, with the sign moving towards the target organ
Explanation
Tinel's sign represents hypersensitivity of regenerating axon tips (growth cones) to mechanical stimulation. Progressive distal migration of the Tinel's sign at approximately 1 mm/day indicates advancing axonal regeneration from the lesion towards the target organ — a favourable prognostic sign. A stationary Tinel's sign suggests failure of progression (e.g., scar entrapment). A proximal Tinel's sign without distal migration indicates poor regeneration. This is distinct from Wallerian degeneration, which occurs distally from the start.
Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.