Carpal tunnel syndrome

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Background

  • Also known as "Median Mononeuropathy"
  • Most common focal mononeuropathy
  • Results from compression of median nerve at wrist where it traverses the carpal tunnel
  • Median nerve provides sensation to the palmar aspect digits 1-3 and radial side of 4th
  • Etiology: repetitive wrist flexion/extension, trauma, edema

Risk factors

Clinical Features

History

  • Pain, paresthesia, and numbness in distribution of median nerve
    • Palmar aspect of thumb, index, middle, and radial aspect of ring finger
  • Awakening at night with burning pain and tingling in hand

Physical

  • Tinel sign
    • Tapping on palmar aspect of wrist reuslts in electric shock sensation shooting into hand
    • SN 0.50 and SP 0.77[1]
  • Phalen maneuver
    • Holding wrists in flexion for 60 seconds evokes or worsens symptoms
    • SN 0.68 and SP 0.73[2]
  • Durkan sign
    • Manual compression of carpal tunnel reproduces symptoms after 30 seconds
    • SN 0.64 and SP 0.83
    • More sensitive and specific than Tinel and Phalen in earlier studies[3]

Differential Diagnosis

By Type of Lestion

Proximal Lesion

Distal Lesion

  • Ulna neuropathy

Systemic condition

Upper extremity peripheral nerve syndromes

Median Nerve Syndromes

Ulnar Nerve Syndromes

Radial Nerve Syndromes

Proximal Neuropathies

Other

Evaluation

Management

  • See this American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons clinical decision tool for treatment options and disposition - CTS guidelines
  • Behavioral modification
  • Wrist splint with wrist in neutral position
  • NSAIDs (although not clearly effective)
  • Diuretics (if edema is significant contributor to patient's symptoms)

Disposition

  • Out-patient

See Also

References

  1. MacDermid JC and Wessel J. Clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review. J Hand Ther. 2004; 17(2):309.
  2. MacDermid JC and Wessel J. Clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review. J Hand Ther. 2004; 17(2):309.
  3. Durkan, JA. A new diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1991; 73(4):535–538.