Which diagnosis involves compression of the median nerve at the wrist?

Which diagnosis involves compression of the median nerve at the wrist?

• A. Dupuytren's Contracture
• B. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• C. Ganglion
• D. De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Answer: (B)

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This occurs as the nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, where pressure from swelling or other factors disrupts its function. The result is numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and the radial side of the ring finger, often worse at night, and weakness or atrophy of the thumb’s thenar muscles, which can affect grip. To understand why this is the right choice, remember that the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist with the median nerve as a key occupant; when anything narrows that space, nerve signals don’t get through clearly. The other options describe different problems. Dupuytren's contracture involves thickening of the palmar fascia leading to finger contractures, not nerve compression. A ganglion is a fluid-filled cyst that can press on nearby structures but is not defined by median nerve compression. De Quervain's tenosynovitis is inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, causing pain with thumb movement rather than sensory or motor changes from nerve compression.

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This occurs as the nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, where pressure from swelling or other factors disrupts its function. The result is numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and the radial side of the ring finger, often worse at night, and weakness or atrophy of the thumb’s thenar muscles, which can affect grip. To understand why this is the right choice, remember that the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist with the median nerve as a key occupant; when anything narrows that space, nerve signals don’t get through clearly.

The other options describe different problems. Dupuytren's contracture involves thickening of the palmar fascia leading to finger contractures, not nerve compression. A ganglion is a fluid-filled cyst that can press on nearby structures but is not defined by median nerve compression. De Quervain's tenosynovitis is inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, causing pain with thumb movement rather than sensory or motor changes from nerve compression.