Diagnosis and Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome During Pregnancy

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) represents a constellation of symptoms that can occur as a result of compression of the median nerve as it traverses through a constrained space at the level of the wrist. It is the most common compressive mononeuropathy in the human body. Patients frequently present with similar history and physical examination findings, most commonly consisting of numbness of the hand that is worse at nighttime. Although CTS is one of the more common conditions seen by hand, orthopedic, or plastic surgeons, patients often first report symptoms to their primary or obstetric care clinician. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of CTS in pregnant patients, summarize the best methods for diagnosing this condition, and review the recommended treatment options. This review provides a practical strategy that can be used by both primary care and obstetric care clinicians in diagnosing and treating pregnant patients with CTS.