What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?:

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) or Median Neuropathy at the Wrist is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, and muscle weakness in the forearm and hand.[1]

A form of compressive neuropathy, CTS is more common in women than it is in men, and, though it can occur at any age, has a peak incidence around age 42.[2]

The lifetime risk for CTS is around 10% of the adult population.[3].

Most cases of CTS are idiopathic -- without known cause.

Repetitive activities are often blamed for the development of CTS, along with several other possible causes.

However, the correlation is often unclear.

It is a multi-faceted problem and can therefore be challenging to treat.

Still, there is a multitude of possible treatments, e.g. treating any possible underlying disease or condition, immobilizing braces, physiotherapy, medication, prioritizing hand activities and ergonomics.

Ultimately, carpal tunnel release surgery may be required. Outcomes are generally good.

The condition was first noted in the medical literature in the early 1900s.

History: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome#History

Although the condition was first noted in the medical literature in the early 1900s, the first use of the term \"carpal tunnel syndrome\" was in 1938.[4]

The pathology was identified by physician George Phalen of the Cleveland Clinic after working with a group of patients in the 1950s and 60s.[4]

CTS became widely known to the general public in the 1990s as a result of the significant increase in chronic wrist pain due to the rapid expansion of office jobs.[5]

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunne..._tunnel.htm#82213049

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist.

The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.

The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand ¾ houses the median nerve and tendons.

Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed.

The result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

Although painful sensations may indicate other conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/carpal_tunnel.html

The carpal tunnel is a channel in the palm side of the wrist (see diagram below).

The bones of the wrist are arranged in a semi-circle, and a tough ligament called the transverse carpal ligament or flexor retinaculum forms a roof over them, creating a passageway (the carpal tunnel).

Running through the carpal tunnel are the tendons that we use to bend the fingers and wrist, and the median nerve.

This is one of three nerves that connect to the hand.

The median nerve also controls some of the muscles that move the thumb.

About carpal tunnel syndrome: hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/carpal_tunnel.html

About 3 in 100 people develop carpal tunnel syndrome at some point in their life.

Over half of these are women.

While it can develop at any age, the chance of it occurring increases with age.

It is most common in people in their 40s and 50s.

Sometimes carpal tunnel syndrome can be triggered by your job.

It can sometimes be prevented by stopping or reducing the activity that stresses your fingers, hand, or wrist, or by changing the way in which activities are done.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068696

There are eight small bones called carpal bones in the wrist.

A ligament (also called retinaculum) lies across the front of the wrist.

Between this ligament and the carpal bones is a space called the carpal tunnel.

The tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel.

A main nerve to the hand (median nerve) also goes through this tunnel before dividing into smaller branches in the palm.

The median nerve gives feeling to the thumb, index and middle fingers, and half of the ring finger.

It also controls the movement to the small muscles at the base of the thumb.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.medinfo.co.uk/conditions/carpaltunnel.html

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where pressure on a nerve (the Median Nerve), where it passes through the wrist into the hand, causes pain, pins and needles, weakness and numbness in the hand.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.arthritis.ca/types%20of%20arthritis/...D4-BCC5-00D0B7474671 }

*Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median (pronounced mee-dee-an) nerve becomes compressed.

*The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand. With carpal tunnel syndrome the nerve is squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist.

*The pressure on the wrist can cause the fingers and thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may feel paralysed, or unable to move.

The median nerve is a large nerve that travels down the centre of the forearm to the skin of the thumb, the index finger, the long middle finger and half of the third, or ring, finger.

It also supplies sensation to the muscles of the base of the thumb.

To enter the hand the median nerve must pass through the narrow opening at the wrist joint.

On one side of the wrist joint are bones, and on the other is a strong ligament that runs across the wrist.

The ligament and the bones form a firm channel that has little ability to expand.

Therefore, if this ‘tunnel’ becomes swollen or narrowed any resulting pressure is applied within.

Several tendons also pass through this tunnel but it is the median nerve, being the most sensitive nerve in the area, that is most prone to damage from this type of pressure.

If any nerve in the body is bumped or has sustained pressure applied to it, this can cause sensory changes such as tingling or numbness.

For example, bumping the 'funny bone' at the elbow can cause tingling or numbness in the fingers.

When pressure is applied to a nerve for a long period this can cause loss of 'motor power' that the nerve supplies to the muscle.

For example, if a person sits in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time this can put pressure on the nerves in the legs, causing them to ‘go to sleep’ and feel temporarily paralysed.

This same phenomenon occurs with carpal tunnel syndrome, except that with carpal tunnel syndrome the pressure is more constant and ongoing and the resulting symptoms more sustained.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=88

Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling and pain in the thumb and fingers of one or both hands.

It is caused by pressure on the nerve that passes into the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women than in men.

One survey found that it affects 7% of women, compared with 1% of men.

The condition can occur at any age, but tends to affect those in their 40s and 50s.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow space at the front of your wrist.

The tendons that bend the fingers and wrist pass through this space.

A tough ligament, known as the retinaculum, covers the carpal tunnel and prevents the tendons pulling away from your wrist when it is bent.

The main nerve to your hand is called the median nerve, and also passes through the carpal tunnel, before dividing into smaller branches in your palm.

Space in the carpal tunnel is limited, and there is no room for the tendons to expand.

Therefore any swelling in the region will compress the median nerve and interfere with nerve impulses.

This can cause pain, which may become prolonged and intense, making it difficult to grip things.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=1536819203

Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel and is characterised by painful paraesthesiae of the fingers and hand.

It is a consequence of the tight packing of tendons and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel such that any swelling is likely to cause ischaemia and compression of the nerve.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.dwp.gov.uk/medical/med_conditions/mi...rpal_tunnel_syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that occurs when there is too much pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the wrist.

As a result, there is usually aching, numbness or tingling in the thumb, some of the fingers (index and middle predominantly), and sometimes part of the hand.

Weakness of the small muscles at the base of the thumb may also occur.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow rigid passageway or channel in the palm side of the wrist.

The bones of the wrist are arranged in a semi-circle, and a tough ligament (the carpal ligament) forms a roof over them.

This creates a passageway – the carpal tunnel.

Running though the carpal tunnel are tendons that bend (flex) the fingers and wrist, and the median nerve.

This is one of two nerves that allow feeling in the palm side of the hand.

The median nerve also controls some of the hand muscles, the most important of which controls certain thumb movements.

There is little room for expansion in the carpal tunnel.

If swelling of the tissues in or around the tunnel occurs, the tunnel becomes narrowed.

This leads to pressure or squeezing of the median nerve, causing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7615/343

Summary points: www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7615/343

*Carpal tunnel syndrome is the commonest cause of nocturnal hand paraesthesias and should be suspected in any patient with this symptom, whatever age

*Initial treatment should be with neutral angle splinting at night; milder cases may be treated with local steroid injection before further investigation

*Refer more severe cases—those with thenar weakness, sensory deficit, and daytime symptoms—for nerve conduction studies and possible surgery

*Either open or endoscopic surgery may be used depending on availability of local expertise

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/carpal.asp

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem that affects the use of your hand, and is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist.

It most often occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes inflamed after being aggravated by repetitive movements such as typing on a computer keyboard or playing the piano.

It also seems to affect professional artists fairly commonly – in particular, sculptors and printmakers.

The \"carpal tunnel\" is formed by the bones, tendons and ligaments that surround the median nerve.

Since the median nerve supplies sensation to the thumb, index and middle finger, and part of the ring finger, and provides motion to the muscles of the thumb and hand, you might notice numbness and weakness in these areas.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?: www.mayoclinic.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/DS00326

Introduction: www.mayoclinic.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/DS00326

Some people might think that carpal tunnel syndrome is a new condition of the information technology age, born from long hours of computer keyboarding.

But carpal tunnel syndrome isn't new.

Evidence of people experiencing signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occurs in medical records dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Bounded by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway — about as big around as your thumb — located on the palm side of your wrist.

This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers.

Pressure placed on the nerve produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.

Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment usually can relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of the wrists and hands.