Carpal tunnel syndrome- etiology and treatment

Abstract

The paper presents the etiology, diagnostics, management, treatment and prognosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The mechanism of the median nerve compression as well as the predisposing factors that cause the syndrome are discussed, as well as the sequence of specific symptoms and the classification of the level of severity of disease. The diagnostic methods are presented with both the benefits and consequences of each method. The treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is divided into conservative and surgical approaches. Conservative treatment consists of keeping the wrist immobile using wrist splints, physiotherapy, systemic and local pharmacotherapy, as well as local steroid injections into the carpal tunnel. The results of conservative treatment are often short-term. Operative treatment consists of cutting the flexor retinaculum tendon. This directly eliminates the cause of CTS, the increased pressure in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. A certain percentage of patients experience complications post treatment or disease recurrence.