2 Point Discrimination

A 2 Point Discrimination Test

Figure 1 shows three tools used for a two point discrimination test. As seen in Figure 2, the patient should be able to differentiate if they are being touched by either 1 or two individual sharp points to assess perception through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway.. Step 1: ask the patient to respond if they “feel one or two points” with eyes closed. Step 2: Place the Boley gauge and start at 5mm, to where the skin blanches. Step 3: increase or shorten the distance between the two points at each nerve level of the foot. 

-Shooter, David (2005). “Use of two-point discrimination as a nerve repair assessment tool: Preliminary report”. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 75 (10): 866–868.