OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is carpal tunnel syndrome. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how carpal tunnel syndrome will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a tradition question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
A 30 year old female who is at 30 weeks gestation comes to the clinic with complaints of numbness in her hands. She has been experiencing this pain for 3 weeks, and it awakens her from sleep at night. She explains that her hands feel as though she has been sleeping on them. Her pregnancy has had no other complications. Physical examination reveals mild weakness of the thumbs bilaterally. Sensation is decreased (to pinprick) on the right index finger. What is the likely diagnosis?
Question # 2
A 35 year old woman G1PO woman is at 28 weeks gestation when she comes to the clinic for a routine prenatal visit. She has has a 1 year history of right wrist pan that causes numbness of her palm. In the past she had controlled her pain with ibuprofen however more recently the pain has been more difficult to manage during her pregnancy. The patient’s pregnancy has otherwise been uncomplicated. There is tingling of the index and middle fingers her right hand with percussion of the volar wrist. The rest of the physical exam is unremarkable. What is the likely diagnosis in this patient.
Explanation: tingling of index/middle fingers with wrist percussion = carpal tunnel syndrome
Page Updated: 10.24.2016