Carpal tunnel syndrome

[Jessica]

Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Symptoms include pain and paresthesias in the median nerve distribution. Diagnosis is suggested by symptoms and signs and is confirmed by nerve conduction velocity testing. Treatments include ergonomic improvements, analgesia, splinting, and sometimes corticosteroid injection or surgery.
(See also Overview and Evaluation of Hand Disorders.)
Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common and most often occurs in women aged 30 to 50. Risk factors include rheumatoid arthritis or other wrist arthritis (sometimes the presenting manifestation), diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, primary, cardiac or dialysis-associated amyloidosis, and pregnancy-induced edema in the carpal tunnel. Activities or jobs that require repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist may contribute, but rarely. Most cases are idiopathic.

[Tracie Lynn]

a medical condition of pain and weakness in the hand, caused by repeated pressure on a nerve in the wrist