CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

PATHOLOGY

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the name given to the compression of the median nerve in its passage through the carpal tunnel. The latter may be compared to an oval osteofibrous slide that has a dorsolateral wall made of the carpal bones and an anterior wall formed by the strong anterior annular ligament of the carpus. The flexor muscles of the fingers and median nerve pass through there. Due to the inextensibility of the tunnel the median nerve is easily compressed by anything that might alter the content-contingent relationship; for example, fractures or luxations of the carpus, Colles fractures, hematomas, rheumatoid arthritis, synovitis, tenosynovitis, tumors or cysts, endocrine disorders (menopause), pregnancy and collagenopathies.

In many cases no precise cause is found: only hypertrophy of the anterior annular ligament of the carpus (loss of the normal content-contingent relationship). En muchos casos no se encuentra ninguna causa precisa: solo hipertrofia del ligamento anular anterior del carpo (pérdida en la relación normal contenido-contingente). This neuropathy can be cause by the repeated movement of the wrist joint or overuse associated with specific occupational tasks, occupations and sporting activities that put a lot of strain on the wrist joint. With repetitive movements, the carpal tunnel can become inflamed and irritated, and compress the median nerve.

Among the most prominent clinical manifestations figure, initially, a sense of numbness, tingling or burning in the first three fingers if the hand, and pain. These symptoms get worse during the night, waking the patient, or at first light. Later on, if the compression continues, it evokes clumsiness in the manual activity, weakness when pinching and grasping objects and thumb movements, inflammation in the hand and forearm, and thenar muscle atrophy