Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment peripheral neuropathy, specifically affecting the hand. It consists of compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel, at the level of the wrist.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow, rigid passageway at the base of the hand, the wrist, between ligaments and bones, through which the tendons of the flexor muscles of the fingers and the median nerve pass.
Compression of the median nerve causes pain and paraesthesia of the first to fourth fingers of the affected hand, which become more intense during night-time rest.
The best way of diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome is by EMG (Electromyogram). At first, a conservative treatment should be adopted, avoiding aggressive techniques and activities that can trigger symptoms, treating discomfort at source with night splints, infiltrations, NSAIDs, etc.
Normally, after time, it becomes necessary to resort to surgical solutions to solve the problem. These can include:
- Open surgery to release the transverse carpal ligament.
- Arthroscopic surgery with millimetre incisions that release compression.
