Health encyclopaedia

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Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness, tingling and pain in the thumb and fingers of one or both hands.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow space at the front of the wrist. The tendons that bend the fingers and wrist pass through this space. A tough ligament covers the carpal tunnel and prevents the tendons pulling away from the wrist when it is bent.

One of the two nerves that allow feeling in the hand also passes through the carpal tunnel. This is known as the median nerve. Space in the carpal tunnel is limited, and there is no room for the tendons to expand. Any swelling in the region tends to compress the median nerve and interfere with nerve impulses. This can cause pain, which may become prolonged and intense, and make it difficult to grip things.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• References

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