Survey of hand symptoms in pregnancy

In a study of 1216 pregnancies, 427 (35%) patients reported hand symptoms. Symptoms of the same quality and distribution were reported by 40 (30%) of 132 control subjects within the previous year, and although invariably mild, these symptoms suggest that pregnancy may aggravate a pre-existing condition. Fewer than 20% of the 427 affected patients described a classic median-nerve symptom distribution (carpal tunnel syndrome), while 12% of patients described an ulnar-nerve distribution, which is thought to represent a genuine and previously underestimated occurrence of ulnar-nerve neuropathy in pregnancy. In 69% of patients, hand symptoms were generalized. Most symptoms were bilateral, commenced in the third trimester and resolved soon after delivery. There was a significant correlation of hand symptoms in pregnancy with the presence of preeclampsia, tight rings, the weight at confinement, the birth weight and a history of premenstrual bloating. Operative intervention was not required for any patient.