Impact of carpal tunnel syndrome on the expectant woman's life

This article focuses on its impact to the third trimester pregnant mothers with CTS.Third trimester pregnant mothers with no other known risk factors for CTS, were interviewed and examined for a clinical diagnosis of CTS. The severity of CTS was assessed by means of symptoms severity and functionality using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire.Out of 333 third trimester pregnant mothers, 82 (24.6%) were clinically diagnosed with CTS. Malay race was found to have significant correlation with the diagnosis of CTS (p = 0.024) and are two times more likely to get CTS during pregnancy (OR = 2.26) compare to the non-Malays. Bilateral CTS was two times higher (n = 58, 63.4%) than unilateral cases (n = 30, 36.6%), however no significant correlation between the two was found with severity (p = 0.284) or functional (p = 0.906). The commonest complaint was numbness/tingling during day time (n = 63, 76.8%). Majority of the CTS cases were mild (n = 66, 80.5%) and approximately one third (n = 28, 34.1%) had affected hand functions. All symptoms related to pain was found to have significant correlation with severity (p = 0.00, OR = 12.23) and function (p = 0.005, OR = 5.01), whereas numbness and tingling does not (Severity, p = 0.843, function, p = 0.632).This study shows that even though CTS in third trimester pregnancy is prevalent, generally it would be mild. However, function can still be affected especially if patients complain of pain.CTS occurs when the median nerve is entrapped within the Carpal Tunnel causing sensations of pain, numbness and tingling at the median nerve distribution in the hand and could extend up to the arms. Previous studies had found that CTS was more prevalent in the female population. It was postulated because morphologically, females are more prone to CTS compare to male [1]. CTS were first linked with pregnancy in 1957 by Wallace and Cook where they describe two cases of CTS in pregnancy and did surgical decompression [2]. The paper focuses on "p