Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. It develops when the median nerve is compressed beneath the transverse carpal ligament at the level of the wrist, producing numbness, tingling, and weakness in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger.
Population studies estimate that about 4% of adults experience the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome at some point, with around 2.7% having the diagnosis confirmed by nerve conduction tests1. Women are affected two to three times more often than men, and the prevalence rises sharply after age 45.

How is the diagnosis made?

The diagnosis is primarily clinical. A characteristic history of nocturnal numbness in the median nerve distribution, combined with positive provocative tests at the wrist, identifies most cases. Nerve conduction studies are useful when the picture is atypical or when surgery is being considered, but they are not essential for the initial diagnosis2.

What does treatment involve?

Most patients begin with conservative treatment: a wrist splint worn at night, modification of provoking activities, and sometimes a corticosteroid injection. When symptoms persist or recur, surgical decompression provides reliable long-term relief, with low recurrence rates beyond five years3. The procedure is performed as a day case under local or regional anaesthesia.
Recovery from surgery is typically straightforward. Most patients report immediate relief of nocturnal symptoms; light activities resume within a week, return to driving by two to three weeks, and full recovery of grip strength over six to twelve weeks.