Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Ergonomic Risk Factors and Intracarpal

Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have an increase in baseline fluid pressure with the carpal canal and an exaggerated increase in intracarpal canal pressures in response to wrist flexion and extension. The authors discuss these factors in terms of the epidemiologic evidence that associates work activity to carpal tunnel syndrome and in terms of their physiologic effect on carpal canal pressure. The authors also include a biomechanic model of the pathophysiology of carpal tunnel syndrome.