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Vol 81, No 4 (2022)
Review article
Submitted: 2021-09-21
Accepted: 2021-10-21
Published online: 2021-11-09
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Carpal tunnel syndrome: state-of-the-art review

K. Osiak1, P. Elnazir2, J. A. Walocha2, A. Pasternak21
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2021.0121
·
Pubmed: 34783004
·
Folia Morphol 2022;81(4):851-862.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Professor W. Orlowski Memorial Hospital, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland

open access

Vol 81, No 4 (2022)
REVIEW ARTICLES
Submitted: 2021-09-21
Accepted: 2021-10-21
Published online: 2021-11-09

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment encountered worldwide. The aetiology can be related to repetitive exposure to vibrations or forceful angular motions, genetic predisposition, injury and specific conditions, such as diabetes, pregnancy and morbid obesity. This entity is observed with increased frequency in females and the elderly. The diagnosis is largely clinical and suspected when patients present with typical symptoms such as numbness, tingling, nocturnal paraesthesia and/or neuritic “pins-and-needles” pain in the radial 3.5 digits. Certain provocative manoeuvres can be employed to evoke the symptoms of the disease to guide the diagnosis. Further testing such as electrodiagnostic studies, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging is required in the case of diagnostic uncertainty or if there is a need for objective evaluation whether or not more invasive surgical intervention is required. If the presenting symptoms are mild and discontinuous, non-surgical measures are indicated. However, if the symptoms are moderate to severe, further testing modalities such as nerve conduction studies or needle electromyography are used to determine whether carpal tunnel syndrome is acute or chronic. If significant evidence of axonal injury is identified, surgical treatment may be indicated. Surgical release of the carpal tunnel has evolved over time to become the most common hand surgery procedure.

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment encountered worldwide. The aetiology can be related to repetitive exposure to vibrations or forceful angular motions, genetic predisposition, injury and specific conditions, such as diabetes, pregnancy and morbid obesity. This entity is observed with increased frequency in females and the elderly. The diagnosis is largely clinical and suspected when patients present with typical symptoms such as numbness, tingling, nocturnal paraesthesia and/or neuritic “pins-and-needles” pain in the radial 3.5 digits. Certain provocative manoeuvres can be employed to evoke the symptoms of the disease to guide the diagnosis. Further testing such as electrodiagnostic studies, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging is required in the case of diagnostic uncertainty or if there is a need for objective evaluation whether or not more invasive surgical intervention is required. If the presenting symptoms are mild and discontinuous, non-surgical measures are indicated. However, if the symptoms are moderate to severe, further testing modalities such as nerve conduction studies or needle electromyography are used to determine whether carpal tunnel syndrome is acute or chronic. If significant evidence of axonal injury is identified, surgical treatment may be indicated. Surgical release of the carpal tunnel has evolved over time to become the most common hand surgery procedure.

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Keywords

carpal tunnel syndrome, entrapment neuropathy, median nerve, open carpal tunnel release

About this article
Title

Carpal tunnel syndrome: state-of-the-art review

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 81, No 4 (2022)

Article type

Review article

Pages

851-862

Published online

2021-11-09

Page views

11039

Article views/downloads

7380

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2021.0121

Pubmed

34783004

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2022;81(4):851-862.

Keywords

carpal tunnel syndrome
entrapment neuropathy
median nerve
open carpal tunnel release

Authors

K. Osiak
P. Elnazir
J. A. Walocha
A. Pasternak

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