Entrapment syndromes

Peripheral nerve entrapment is common. Patients present with tingling and pain in the distribution of the affected nerve. This will progress to altered sensation and weakness with prolonged and/or increasing pressure. The most common nerve entrapment syndromes are carpal tunnel affecting the median nerve at the wrist and cubital tunnel affecting the ulnar nerve at the elbow. They affect the working population, so time-efficient diagnosis and robust effective treatment strategies are important to minimize the financial implications to industry. Aetiology, diagnosis, and management strategies for carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and meralgia paraesthetica are discussed in this chapter along with a brief overview of other entrapment syndromes. Current controversies between open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release are also reviewed.