Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-hvd4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-23T20:53:28.679Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Symptoms Experienced by Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Sanjoy K. Gupta  and
Timothy J. Benstead
Sanjoy K. Gupta
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Timothy J. Benstead*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
*
Division of Neurology, Dalhousie University, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 2Y9
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) sometimes report sensory symptoms outside the median nerve distribution. This study was designed to provide a more detailed assessment of these symptoms.

Methods:

Patients with clinical suspicion of upper limb neuromuscular lesions were divided into those with electrodiagnostic (EDX) evidence of CTS, and those without. CTS patients with superimposed nerve abnormalities were excluded. Motor and sensory symptoms were assessed in the exclusive CTS patients.

Results:

Over 50% of patients with exclusive CTS reported tingling or numbness over the whole hand, ulnar or radial nerve distributions. Some patients reported symptoms proximal to the wrist. Sensory signs did not extend beyond the median nerve distribution. Numbness and nocturnal pain were predictive of positive EDX evidence of CTS.

Conclusions:

Sensory symptoms outside the distribution of the median nerve are common in CTS. For enhanced sensitivity in diagnosis it is useful to be aware of these “atypical” symptoms. Reports of numbness and nocturnal pain are strong indicators of CTS.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , November 1997 , pp. 338 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1997

References

REFERENCES

1.Stevens, JC, Sun, S, Beard, CM, O’Fallon, WM, Kurland, LT. Carpal tunnel syndrome in Rochester, Minnesota, 1961 to 1980. Neurology 1988; 38: 134–138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Phalen, GS. The carpal-tunnel syndrome: seventeen years’ experience in diagnosis and treatment of six hundred fifty-four hands. J Bone Joint Surg 1966; 48: 211–228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Katz, JN, Larson, MG, Sabra, A, et al. The carpal tunnel syndrome: diagnostic utility of the history and physical examination findings. Ann Int Med 1990; 112: 321–327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Stewart, JD. The median nerve. In: Focal Peripheral Neuropathies. New York: Raven Press, 1993: 170–185.Google Scholar
5.Ross, MA, Kimura, J. AAEM case report #2: the carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve 1995; 18: 567–573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Spinner, RJ, Bachman, JW, Amadio, PC. The many faces of carpal tunnel syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc 1989; 64: 829–836.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Bohr, T. Carpal tunnel syndrome. (Letter)Mayo Clin Proc 1990; 65: 122–125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Daube, JR. Nerve conduction studies. In: Aminoff, MJ, ed. Electrodiagnosis in Clinical Neurology. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1986: 265–306.Google Scholar
9.American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Practice parameter for electrodiagnostic studies in carpal tunnel syndrome: summary statement. Muscle Nerve 1993; 16: 1390–1391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Daube, JR. Percutaneous palmar median nerve stimulation for carpal tunnel syndrome. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1977; 43: 139–140.Google Scholar
11.Hansson, S. Does forearm mixed nerve conduction velocity reflect retrograde changes in carpal tunnel syndrome? Muscle Nerve 1994; 17: 725–729.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Pecina, MM, Krmpotic-Nemanic, J, Markiewitz, J. Carpal Tunnel Syndromes. Boca Raton, CRC Press, Inc., 1991: 55–67.Google Scholar
13.Oswald, TA, Wertsch, JJ, Vennix, MJ, Brooks, LL, Spreitzer, AM. Ulnar paresthesias as a presenting symptom of carpal tunnel “syndrome”. Muscle Nerve 1994; 17: 1082.Google Scholar
14.Morgenstern, H, Kelsh, M, Kraus, J, Margolis, W.Across-sectional study of hand/wrist symptoms in female grocery checkers. Am J Ind Med 1991; 20: 209–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.MMWR. Occupational disease surveillance: carpal tunnel syndrome. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1989; 38: 485–489.Google Scholar