Carpal tunnel syndrome - statistical analysis data for January and February in 2023 in Skopje, North Macedonia

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome represents compression of the median nerve in the wrist and is the most common neuropathic compression of the upper limbs. It occurs as a result of increased pressure in the carpal tunnel, which causes ischemia of the median nerve and subsequent physiological dysfunction. Carpal tunnel syndrome is primarily a clinical diagnosis, with symptoms such as tingling, numbness, burning, or prickling in the anterior aspect of the thumb, index finger, third finger, and radial part of the fourth finger. In the United States, carpal tunnel syndrome has an incidence of 1 to 3 persons per 1000 per year, with a prevalence of 50 per 1000, and similar incidence and prevalence in more developed countries. According to data obtained from the Clinical Center Mother Teresa Skopje, North Macedonia, it has been noted that it most often occurs in patients aged 30 to 60 years and is two to three times more common in women than in men. Comorbidities in patients are also monitored, usually including diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension. Out of 10 patients who were monitored over a period of 2 months, 8 were women and 2 were men.

Keywords: carpal tunnel, syndrome, statistics, Macedonia