Abstract
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity, resulting from the entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Nine tendons and the median nerve are inclosed in this fairly rigid compartment bounded by the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum. Increased pressure within the tunnel causes compression of the nerve. In most cases the syndrome is idiopathic, altough it is often associated with several risk factors and pathologies. Recurrent repetitive injury is now accepted as a major cause of the syndrome and CTS is considered today as occupational disease. Typical symptoms include numbness and paresthesia along the distribution of the median nerve. Tenar muscles weakness is a late manifestation of advanced disease. Tinel's and Phalen's signs are helpful in suggesting the diagnosis. Electrophysiological tests are helpful in confirming the diagnosis. There is no universally accepted therapy for CTS. Surgical treatment is widely preferred to not-surgical or conservative therapies (steroid treatment and physical therapy) for overtly symptomatic patients, while mild cases are usually not treated. This paper points on pathophysiological and clinical aspects of the syndrome. The proposed advantages and disvantages of the new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are also discussed. We look at the current body of evidence to help determine optimal practice for the diagnosis and management of this condition.
| Original language | Italian |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 131-158 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Journal | Nuova Rivista di Neurologia |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2003 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
Cite this
Sindrome del tunnel carpale : Attualità clinica, diagnostica e terapeutica. / Calandriello, Eugenio; Valente, Gabriele; Valletta, Lorena; Perrotta, Armando; Bartolo, Michelangelo; Serrao, Mariano; Sciortino, Giannarita; Parisi, Leoluca.
In: Nuova Rivista di Neurologia, Vol. 13, No. 5, 09.2003, p. 131-158.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sindrome del tunnel carpale
T2 - Attualità clinica, diagnostica e terapeutica
AU - Calandriello, Eugenio
AU - Valente, Gabriele
AU - Valletta, Lorena
AU - Perrotta, Armando
AU - Bartolo, Michelangelo
AU - Serrao, Mariano
AU - Sciortino, Giannarita
AU - Parisi, Leoluca
PY - 2003/9
Y1 - 2003/9
N2 - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity, resulting from the entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Nine tendons and the median nerve are inclosed in this fairly rigid compartment bounded by the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum. Increased pressure within the tunnel causes compression of the nerve. In most cases the syndrome is idiopathic, altough it is often associated with several risk factors and pathologies. Recurrent repetitive injury is now accepted as a major cause of the syndrome and CTS is considered today as occupational disease. Typical symptoms include numbness and paresthesia along the distribution of the median nerve. Tenar muscles weakness is a late manifestation of advanced disease. Tinel's and Phalen's signs are helpful in suggesting the diagnosis. Electrophysiological tests are helpful in confirming the diagnosis. There is no universally accepted therapy for CTS. Surgical treatment is widely preferred to not-surgical or conservative therapies (steroid treatment and physical therapy) for overtly symptomatic patients, while mild cases are usually not treated. This paper points on pathophysiological and clinical aspects of the syndrome. The proposed advantages and disvantages of the new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are also discussed. We look at the current body of evidence to help determine optimal practice for the diagnosis and management of this condition.
AB - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity, resulting from the entrapment of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Nine tendons and the median nerve are inclosed in this fairly rigid compartment bounded by the carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum. Increased pressure within the tunnel causes compression of the nerve. In most cases the syndrome is idiopathic, altough it is often associated with several risk factors and pathologies. Recurrent repetitive injury is now accepted as a major cause of the syndrome and CTS is considered today as occupational disease. Typical symptoms include numbness and paresthesia along the distribution of the median nerve. Tenar muscles weakness is a late manifestation of advanced disease. Tinel's and Phalen's signs are helpful in suggesting the diagnosis. Electrophysiological tests are helpful in confirming the diagnosis. There is no universally accepted therapy for CTS. Surgical treatment is widely preferred to not-surgical or conservative therapies (steroid treatment and physical therapy) for overtly symptomatic patients, while mild cases are usually not treated. This paper points on pathophysiological and clinical aspects of the syndrome. The proposed advantages and disvantages of the new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are also discussed. We look at the current body of evidence to help determine optimal practice for the diagnosis and management of this condition.
KW - Carpal tunnel syndrome
KW - EMG
KW - ENG
KW - Median nerve
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0345134145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0345134145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Articolo
VL - 13
SP - 131
EP - 158
JO - Nuova Rivista di Neurologia
JF - Nuova Rivista di Neurologia
SN - 0035-6344
IS - 5
ER -