CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME - A GUIDE TO PROMPT INTERVENTION

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy in the United States, The diagnosis should be considered for any patient wit h hand or wrist pain, weakness, or numbness, Changes in sensory conduc tion velocities across the wrist appear to be the most sensitive elect rophysiologic indicators of the condition, Treatment of mild cases inv olves avoiding the precipitating activity, wrist splinting, and local steroid injections; surgical decompression is often required for moder ate and severe cases. Overall, prognosis relates directly to the sever ity of the median nerve injury at diagnosis, the clinical cause, and t he mode of treatment.