Prevalence and Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a "rare disease". More information about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is available from Orphanet

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Prevalence: Book Excerpts

• Causes and incidence - Carpal tunnel syndrome

Prevalence/Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The carpal tunnel is formed by the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. Inflammation or fibrosis of the tendon sheaths that pass through the carpal tunnel commonly causes edema and compression of the median nerve. Many conditions can cause the contents or structure of the carpal tunnel to swell and press the median nerve against the transverse carpal ligament. Such conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, flexor tenosynovitis (commonly associated with rheumatic disease), nerve compression, pregnancy, renal failure, menopause, diabetes mellitus, acromegaly, edema following Colles’fracture, hypothyroidism, amyloidosis, myxedema, benign tumors, tuberculosis, and other granulomatous diseases. Another source of damage to the median nerve is dislocation or acute sprain of the wrist.

Carpal tunnel injury is five times more common in women than in men. It usually occurs in women between ages 30 and 60 and poses a serious occupational health problem. Assembly-line workers and packers and people who repeatedly use poorly designed tools are most likely to develop this disorder. Any strenuous use of the hands — sustained grasping, twisting, or flexing — aggravates this condition.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.

 » Next page: Videos related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Videos related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Prognosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City