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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Although it might seem that carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition born from long hours spent working on a computer keyboard, carpal tunnel syndrome actually has numerous causes.
Bound by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway — about as big around as your thumb — located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and nine tendons that bend your fingers. Pressure placed on the nerve produces the numbness, pain and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment usually can relieve the pain and numbness and restore normal use of their wrists and hands.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm. Accessed Dec. 5, 2008.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00005. Accessed Dec. 5, 2008.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.assh.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PatientsPublic/HandConditions/CarpalTunnelSyndrome/Carpal_Tunnel_Syndr.htm. Accessed Dec. 5, 2008.
- Sheon RP. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Sheon RP. Etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Scott KR, et al. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Hunter AA, et al. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
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