Master Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Picmonic for Medicine

Nerve compression can occur in the tunnel. This is typically as a result of decrease in size of the canal (wrist flexion), or because of swelling of other contents, such as the flexor tendons or lubrication tissues. Median nerve compression leads to paresthesia, pain and numbness.

Patients often complain of numbness, tingling and pain in the distribution of the median nerve (thumb, palm, pointer finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger).

In the Phalen's maneuver, patients flex the wrist as far as possible and hold this position for 60 seconds. If symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome arise (pain or paresthesia), then a clinical diagnosis has been reached. The severity of disease correlates to how quickly symptoms are seen with this test.

This test is less sensitive than Phalen's test, but is often used. The clinician taps the patient's affected wrist over the flexor retinaculum, with the hopes of eliciting pain or paresthesia in the distribution of the median nerve.

A common, conservative mode of management in carpal tunnel syndrome is immobilizing the wrist with a splint. Immobilization stops the canal containing the median nerve from decreasing in size and getting compressed. Patients are advised to wear a splint at night and when doing the activity associated with symptoms.

When symptoms become more severe or are no longer intermittent and present constantly, surgery is often done. This "carpal tunnel release surgery" ligates the transverse carpal ligament.

Corticosteroid medications are a short-term treatment option for patients to control symptoms. This treatment method is not given long-term, however.