In this podcast. Dr. Larry Hurst takes you through one of the most talked-about and diagnosed conditions of the hand - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a symptomatic compression neuropathy of the median nerve at the level of the wrist and is characterized by pain and paresthesias in the palmar radial aspect of the hand. Symptoms are often worse at night and exacerbated by repetitive and forceful use of the hand. As the syndrome represents a collection of signs and symptoms, no one test absolutely confirms a diagnosis. CTS is the most common compression neuropathy of the upper extremity.

Typical History

Patients will present with symptoms that first appeared in one or both hands at night and then gradually increased to other times of the day. Patients report symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the palm and fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers, which are intermittent and associated with specific activities such as driving, typing, knitting, etc. Patients will report difficulty grasping small objects or performing other manual tasks. In chronic, untreated cases the muscles at the base of the thumb may have atrophied; some patients are unable to discriminate between hot and cold by touch.

Learn more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Hand Surgery Resource: https://www.handsurgeryresource.net/carpal-tunnel