Carpal tunnel syndrome and rehabilitation approaches

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common type of peripheral nerve entrapment neuropathy, caused by the compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Clinically, it presents with numbness, tingling, pain, and in advanced cases, motor deficits in the hand and fingers. There are two main approaches to the treatment of CTS: conservative (non-surgical) and surgical. Conservative treatments include wrist splinting, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, physical therapy modalities, and alternative therapies such as ultrasound, laser therapy, and exercises. Surgical treatment aims to relieve the pressure on the median nerve through decompression, which can be performed using open or endoscopic techniques. In this review, the etiology, diagnosis, and current treatment approaches for CTS are comprehensively discussed, and the efficacy of treatment options is evaluated in light of current literature and clinical recommendations.