Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

Hand raising test: a simple but effective tool to diagnose carpal tunnel
Patients hold their hands over their head and if symptoms of carpal tunnel develop within 2 minutes, it is considered positive, meaning they likely have carpel tunnel
Symptom included numbness and dull pain in the distribution of the median nerve
Treatment for carpal tunnel in the ED can include splinting in a neutral position and oral steroids with possible follow up for steroid injections or surgery

References

Padua L, Coraci D, Erra C, et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Lancet Neurol. 2016;15(12):1273-1284. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(16)30231-9

Ma H, Kim I. The diagnostic assessment of hand elevation test in carpal tunnel syndrome. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2012;52(5):472-475. doi:10.3340/jkns.2012.52.5.472

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Podcast 583: Raise Your Hands if You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Emergency Medical Minute