CTS – Carpal tunnel syndrome
This disease of the hand is among the nerve compression syndromes. The average hand nerve (median nerve) is compressed by the roof of the so-called carpal tunnel (a ridge of carpal bones), a strong band (transverse carpal ligament), from above. Nerves can not handle this compression and it leads to falling asleep (numbness, Bamstigkeit) of the median nerve-powered fingers. This is the flexor side of the thumb, index and middle finger, and half of the ring finger. Patients (affects more women) complain of clumsiness in fine motor work and (night) pain. If the CTS stays long, even motor symptoms come along, such as muscle waste in the thenar.
Treatment principle
Unlike other hand diseases, the conservative therapy should be used here only for about 6 weeks. Then in case of failure, the nerves have to be decompressed. If the nerve is compressed too long, an irreparable damage can occur. Conservative treatment offers infiltration, manual treatments, stretching exercises and physical activities.
The surgery is performed through a small incision at the flexural areas of the wrist. The strap is split and the nerve is freed from adhesions.
Results
Only rapid surgical intervention can show good results. If the syndrome stays too long, the pain may go away after surgery, but the numbness in the fingers will often lessen very slowly.