Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine (Jul 2024)

Median Nerve Measurement and Steroid Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Case Report

  • Gregory Oliva,
  • Joseph McShannic,
  • Yonghoon Lee,
  • Michael Shalaby

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.7194
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
pp. 291 – 294

Abstract

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Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy that affects 3% of adults in the United States. The current techniques used for diagnosis have limited specificity/sensitivity, and the techniques used for treatment have limited efficacy. Case Report: A 34-year-old female presented to the emergency department with two months of worsening painful paresthesias in her right thenar eminence. Ultrasound was performed showing a median nerve area of 20.4 square millimeters within the carpal tunnel. Median nerve block was performed within the carpal tunnel causing complete resolution of her pain. Conclusion: Emergency physicians skilled in point-of-care ultrasound and needle-guided procedures can diagnose and treat carpel tunnel syndrome.