Publication:

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper limb. It is characterized by sensory and, in advanced cases, motor symptoms due to compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Understanding the demographic and clinical profile of CTS patients in a specific setting is important for clinical practice and healthcare planning.

Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study included 100 consecutive adult patients diagnosed with CTS at a tertiary upper limb clinic. Data were extracted from medical records. Variables included age, sex, occupation, side involvement, symptom characteristics, duration of symptoms, and associated comorbidities. Continuous variables were reported as mean±standard deviation, and categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages.

Results The mean age of patients was 53.9±14.7 years. Females accounted for 81% of the sample. Most patients were non-manual workers (94%). Right-sided involvement was present in 55% of cases. Numbness or paresthesia was reported in 97% of patients, pain in 93%, and night symptoms in 88%. The mean duration of symptoms was 29.2±39.0 months. Hypertension (35%) and diabetes mellitus (28%) were the most common comorbidities.

Conclusions CTS in this cohort was more common in middle-aged women and was characterized by a high prevalence of sensory and nocturnal symptoms. Systemic comorbidities were frequent. These findings provide local descriptive data that may support clinical awareness and future research.