Costoclave test according to falconer

K C Eden was the first to describe the test in 1939 and M A Falconer in 1948 (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schulter- und Ellenbogenchirurgie 2012).

Falconer's costoclavicular test is used for the clinical diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). In a study, Demirbag et al. compared MRI findings with various postural maneuver tests and recommend the Falconer clavicular test for diagnosis (Demirbag 2007).

The test is performed on a seated patient with deep inspiration (German Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 2012). The shoulder blades are moved as far back as possible and the arms are pulled downwards. This results in compression of the costoclavicular space. The radial pulse weakens and stenosing flow noises can be heard in the infraclavicular region. The test is therefore considered positive (Hofmann 2023).

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2. German Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (2012) Upper extremity: shoulder-elbow-hand. Examination techniques of the shoulder joint. Springer Medicine 67
3. Eden, K C (1939) The vascular complications of cervical ribs and first thoracic rib abnormalities. Br J Surg 27: 111-139
4. Falconer M A, Weddel G (1948) Costoclavicular compression of the subclavian artery and vein. Lancet 2: 539-544
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