Wrist and Hand- CTS thru Dislocations Flashcards
What cervical spinal nerves, if impinged, may produce hand symptoms?
C6, C7, C8
What S&S must we differentiate between radiculopathy and peripheral nerves?
C6 spinal nerve and musculoskeletal nerve
C7 spinal nerve vs. radial nerve
C8 spinal nerve vs. Ulnar nerve
Where is the medial nerve entrapped?
At the wrist
What are the functional questionnaires for carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Katz hand diagram
- Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale
- Hems Questionnaire
- Disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire (DASH)
What is the guideline for carpal tunnel?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical practice Guideline
What is the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome?
2.7% with clinical and electrophysiological confirmation
Carpal Tunnel is the most common _______ _________________.
Entrapment Mononeuropathy
What is the gold standard for carpal tunnel syndrome?
A nerve conduction study
What is a nerve conduction study?
Electricity in body and see how well the nerves carry it, seeing how fast it travels compared to norm
What are risk factors for carpal tunnel?
Obesity, over 45 years of age, biological female, forceful hand activity with work
What are some lesser linked risk factors for carpal tunnel?
- Circulatory conditions such as cardiopulmonary (CHF, HTN) or diabetes
- Age related joint changes
- hypothyroidism
- family hx of CTS
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Wide hand
- short stature
- Work involving repetitive work and vibration
What is the etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Decreased axonal transport by:
* local inflammation at wrist
- repetitive/forceful use
- age-related joint changes
- trauma - lunate subluxation/dislocation
* Systemic inflammation
- auto-immune conditions
- circulatory conditions
- Pregnancy
* Benign ganglion cyst
How many tendons are in the Carpal Tunnel?
10 - FCR, FPL, FDS, FDP plus the nerve under the transverse carpal ligament
Where does the palmar branch of the median nerve travel? What does it provide?
OVER tunnel, provides sensory input to proximal palm, particularly the thenar surface
What nerve goes through the Carpal tunnel?
Superficial branch of median nerve
What does the superficial branch of the median nerve provide sensory input to?
Volar surface of first 3 and a half digits and their dorsal tips
What does the superficial branch of the median nerve provide motor input to?
1st/2nd lumbricals
opponens pollicis
abductor pollicis brevis
flexor pollicis brevis
What digit loses motor input first with carpal tunnel?
THUMB
What happens first: sensory or motor deficits?
Sensory, weakness is only if significant or prolonged lack of conduction
What are symptoms of CTS?
- Gradual onset of tingling that can become numb in volar surface of 1st 3 and a half digits and dorsal tips
- Worse at night and with other prolonged/repetitive wrist positions, especially flexion
- shaking hand reliefes symptoms
- weakening grip, pinch and tip strength
What are signs of carpal tunnel with function?
Limited dexterity
How can we test limited dexterity?
Purdue pegboard
Dellon-modified Moberg pick up test
What are general signs of carpal tunnel with observation?
possible thenar atrophy
What are general signs of carpal tunnel with ROM?
Symptoms with prolonged wrist flexion or extension
What are general signs of carpal tunnel with Resisted / MMT?
Weakening grip, pinch, and tip strength, primarily 1st and 2nd digits
What are general signs of carpal tunnel with neurological testing?
- Diminished sensation with fast progression to numbness over volar surface of the 1st 3 and a half digits and dorsal tips
- DTRs and Myotomes WNL
- ULTT for median nerve (conflicting support)
What are general signs of carpal tunnel with Accessory Motion Testing?
Possible hypo- or hyper mobility with carpal, RC, or distal RU joints
What are carpal tunnel special tests?
- Carpal tunnel compression (inconsistent)
- Wainner’s CPR (best to rule in)
- Two-point discrimination
- Tinel’s (inconsistent)
- Wrist Ratio Index
- Decreased sensation on involved fingers
- Phalen’s (inconsistent)
- Reverse Phalen’s