The carpal-tunnel syndrome is the most frequent neuropathy and it is due to a compression of the median nerve of the wrist in its passage through the anatomic part known as carpal-tunnel. Nervous, vascular and tendinous structures pass through this ‘tunnel’, made by the carpal bones on which lays the carpal transverse ligament.
The main causes of this pathology are repeated traumas, often in association with repetitive physical efforts.
The carpal-tunnel syndrome can also develop in consequence of past traumas of the wrist, of deforming arthritis and arthrosis and also in association with certain systemic diseases as sugar diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, mixedema, etc.
The carpal tunnel syndrome affects prevalently women with a 3:1 ratio; the most affected age is the decade between 50 and 60.