Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve becomes tightly compressed at the underside of the wrist between the wrist bones, tendons, and the overlying transverse carpal ligament. This compression causes numbness, tingling, or pain in the hand and wrist. The median nerve originates in the upper arm and then extends to the forearm, palm, and portions of the fingers.
The prevalence of CTS in the United States ranges from 1 percent to 5 percent of the population. It is the most commonly diagnosed disabling condition of the upper limbs and the most prevalent type of nerve problem in the arms, accounting for around 90 percent of such cases. It most often occurs among people between 45 and 65.
