Review Article
Year: 2022 | Month: July-September | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 217-223
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20220731
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Primary Care Settings: What We Should Know
Theodorus Kevin Putra Johansyah1, John Nolan1
1Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Theodorus Kevin Putra Johansyah
ABSTRACT
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) remains one of the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. The patient may experience pain, numbness, and tingling in hand and arm of the affected individual. Treatment for CTS falls under two choices between conservative and surgical therapy. Mild and moderate symptoms are offered to be treated with conservative treatments, including oral and transvenous steroids, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and corticosteroids injection. A further option is using a surgical procedure with a carpal tunnel release (CTR) by cutting the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) to increase space and relieve the pressure within the tunnel. As there are many cases of CTS worldwide, astute primary care physicians (PCP) must diagnose and choose the right treatment option. Clinicians should acknowledge some basic information about CTS to provide cost-effective and proper treatment. Clinicians can select Conservative treatments before referring the patient to an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. Failure to respond to conservative therapies is a case that needs hospital referral consideration.
Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, primary care, primary care physician