CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME IN PREGNANCY - A PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL-STUDY

Objective: In this prospective study we discuss the diagnosis, charact er, and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in pregnant women. M ethods: Twenty of 625 women (3.2%) who gave birth during a period of 1 2 months at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the Ministr y of Health Ankara Hospital had CTS. We compare and evaluate the diagn osis, character, and treatment of CTS during pregnancy among these 20 women (Group A) and a control group of 10 normal pregnant women (Group B) under similar conditions. The patients were diagnosed as having CT S clinically and by conventional electromyography. Median nerve conduc tion study was selected for use in the diagnosis. Results: The most co mmon symptoms of the pregnant women with CTS were paresthesia and noct urnal pain. Sixteen (80%) cases had bilateral and four (20%) had unila teral symptoms. Conservative treatment with splinting of the wrist at night made all of the patients symptom free. All recovered within 5 we eks after delivery, and none of them needed surgery. Conclusions: Cons ervative therapy should be initiated to minimize patient discomfort. A ppropriate splinting is the cornerstone of treatment in pregnant women . Surgery is usually not indicated.