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Carpal tunnel syndrome - Background information
What is it?
- Carpal tunnel syndrome is a peripheral nerve entrapment caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
- The carpal tunnel is an anatomical compartment of the hand; it is bounded on three sides by carpal bones which form an arch, and on the palmar side by the transverse carpal ligament.
- Intermittent or sustained high pressure within the tunnel (due to reduced dimensions of the tunnel or increased volume of its contents) produces ischaemia of the median nerve resulting in impaired nerve conduction causing paraesthesia and pain.
- Pressure on the nerve may lead to segmental demyelination producing more constant and severe symptoms occasionally associated with weakness and wasting. If axonal injury occurs secondary to prolonged ischaemia the nerve dysfunction may become irreversible.
[Katz and Simmons, 2002; Barnardo, 2004; Ashworth, 2007; Bland, 2007]
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