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Síndrome del túnel carpiano - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Disfunción del nervio mediano; Compresión del nervio mediano

Definición:

Es la presión sobre el nervio mediano, el nervio de la muñeca que proporciona sensibilidad y movimiento a partes de la mano. Esto puede ocasionar entumecimiento, hormigueo, debilidad o daño muscular en la mano y los dedos.

Ver también: liberación del túnel carpiano

Causas:

El nervio mediano proporciona sensibilidad y movimiento a la "región palmar" de la mano (palma de la mano, dedo pulgar, dedo índice, dedo medio y lado palmar del dedo anular).

El área en la muñeca por donde el nervio ingresa en la mano se llama túnel carpiano. Dicho túnel normalmente es estrecho, de manera que cualquier inflamación puede comprimir el nervio y causar dolor, entumecimiento, hormigueo o debilidad, lo cual se denomina síndrome del túnel carpiano.

El síndrome del túnel carpiano es común en personas que ejecutan movimientos repetitivos de la mano y la muñeca. Digitar en el teclado de un computador probablemente es la causa más común de este síndrome. Otras causas comprenden:

  • Coser
  • Conducir
  • Trabajar en una línea de ensamblaje
  • Pintar
  • Escribir
  • Usar herramientas (especialmente herramientas de mano o herramientas que vibren)
  • Deportes tales como el racquetball y el balonmano
  • Tocar algunos instrumentos musicales

La afección ocurre con frecuencia en personas de 30 a 60 años y es más común en las mujeres que en los hombres.

Muchos problemas de salud están asociados con el síndrome del túnel carpiano, como:

  • Reviewed last on: 5/25/2010
  • A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery (10/10/2009).

Referencias

Jarvik JG, Comstock BA, Kliot M, Turner JA, Chan L, Heagerty PJ, et al. Surgery versus non-surgical therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized parallel-group trial. Lancet. 2009;374(9695):1074-1081.

Keith MW. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91(10):2478-2479.

Keith MW. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical practice guidelines on the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91(1):218-219.

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