Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Flashcards
What is the carpal tunnel?
Carpal bones
Flexor retinaculum
Which nerve passes through the carpal tunnel?
Median nerve & 9 flexor tendons to 4 digits
What would swelling indicate in carpal tunnel syndrome?
Median nerve compression
Aetiology of most cases of carpal tunnel?
Idiopathic
What can carpal tunnel be secondary to?
Rheumatoid arthritis
What type of conditions can result in carpal tunnel syndrome?
Conditions resulting in fluid retention
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Chronic renal failure
- Hypothyroidism
What type of fracture can causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Fractures around the wrist
-Colles fracture
Which gender is more likely to have CarpalTS?
Females
8:1 ratio
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
- Paraesthesia in the median nerve innervated digits (thumb & radial 2.5 fingers)
- Loss of sensation & weakness of thumb
- Clumsiness in areas of the hand supplied by the median nerve
Signs of carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
- Demonstratable loss of sensation and/or muscle wasting of the thenar eminence
- Tinel’s test
- Phalen’s test
What is Tinel’s test?
Percussing over median nerve
What is phalen’s test?
Holding the wrist hyper-flexed (decreases space in the carpal tunnel)
Investigations for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Nerve conduction studies - slowing of conduction across the wrist
Non-operative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome?
-Wrist splints at night to prevent flexion & corticosteroid injection
Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome?
-Carpal tunnel decompression
