Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of the Recent Literature

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) remains a puzzling and disabling condition present in 3.8% of the general population. CTS is the most well-known and frequent form of median nerve entrapment, and accounts for 90% of all entrapment neuropathies. This review aims to provide an overview of this common condition, with an emphasis on the pathophysiology involved in CTS. The clinical presentation and risk factors associated with CTS are discussed in this paper. Also, the various methods of diagnosis are explored; including nerve conduction studies, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging

Test battery for assessing vascular disturbances of fingers

The diagnosis of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is difficult, often relying on medical interview and history. The condition is characterized by an exaggerated vasoconstriction of digital arteries in response to cold. The complete closure of digital arteries is episodic and results in a characteristic blanching that is rarely observed by a clinician. Objective measurements of the response of the digital circulation to cold can assist in evaluating a patient for VWF. Finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) following local cooling is a measure of cold-induced vasoconstriction in digital arteries and is an assessment of vasomotor tone. Low FSBPs following cooling are indicative of dysfunction. Finger skin temperature (FST) following hand cooling is a measure of cutaneous blood flow. The mechanism underlying the recovery of cutaneous blood flow following cooling is as yet not fully understood, but a delayed recovery is believed to arise from persistent vascular disturbances of the fingers or from a resulting in conflicting opinions concerning the utility of the measurements, a scarcity of comparable data from epidemiological investigations, and limited normative data to aid clinicians in decision-making. This review of evidence on which the tests are based is aimed at providing clinicians and researchers with an understanding of the factors that must be considered when conducting the tests, interpreting the results, and comparing results between different studies