Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy that affects 3% of adults in the United States. The current techniques used for diagnosis have limited specificity/sensitivity, and the techniques used for treatment have limited efficacy.

Case Report: A 34-year-old female presented to the emergency department with two months of worsening painful paresthesias in her right thenar eminence. Ultrasound was performed showing a median nerve area of 20.4 square millimeters within the carpal tunnel. Median nerve block was performed within the carpal tunnel causing complete resolution of her pain.

Conclusion: Emergency physicians skilled in point-of-care ultrasound and needle-guided procedures can diagnose and treat carpel tunnel syndrome.