Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of?

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment neuropathy caused by the compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
The median nerve provides sensation to the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the radial (thumb side) half of the ring finger.
Compression of this nerve leads to the characteristic symptoms of pain, numbness, and tingling in its distribution, which are often worse at night.

Option B: Compression of the radial nerve does not cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It typically occurs in the upper arm and results in different symptoms.
Option C: Compression of the ulnar nerve affects the little finger and the ulnar side of the ring finger, a condition known as cubital tunnel syndrome when it occurs at the elbow.
Option D: The femoral nerve is a major nerve of the leg and is not located in the arm or wrist. Its compression affects the thigh and leg, not the hand.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Etiology of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a key role in educating patients on conservative management for CTS, such as wrist splinting (especially at night) and ergonomic modifications to prevent symptom exacerbation.
Post-operatively, after a carpal tunnel release surgery, the nurse's priority is to perform frequent neurovascular checks of the hand to monitor for complications like bleeding, infection, or further nerve damage.
What if? If a patient presented with numbness in the little finger and the adjacent half of the ring finger, the nurse should suspect ulnar nerve compression (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome), not CTS. The assessment would then focus on the elbow (the cubital tunnel) rather than the wrist.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that links a specific medical condition to its anatomical cause.
First, identify the key term in the question: "Carpal tunnel syndrome."
The name itself provides a clue: the condition involves the "carpal tunnel" of the wrist.
Next, recall the major nerves that supply the hand: the median, ulnar, and radial nerves.
Immediately eliminate the femoral nerve, as it is a nerve of the lower limb (leg), not the upper limb (arm/hand).
Differentiate the paths of the remaining three nerves. The median nerve is the only one that passes directly through the carpal tunnel.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qz0II_gNkJedRWiA_55Ahj

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1517-1519

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 4 p. 144-146

Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.