CURRENT TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment, which significantly affects patients’ quality of life. Recent reports revealed many new aspects of treatment. It is necessary to continuously improve diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Aim: The aim of this article is to review the latest research on CTS. The article briefly describes diagnostic methods, focusing primarily on conservative and surgical treatments used for CTS. Material and methods: A literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The focus was on studies published between 2016 and 2026. Results: Objective diagnostic methods, such as electrodiagnostic studies (EDX), combined with clinical evaluation, are essential for selecting the appropriate treatment for CTS. Although previous studies on conservative treatment yielded inconsistent outcomes, its effectiveness has been demonstrated in the early stages of the disease. Surgical treatment proves more effective in more advanced cases. Both open and endoscopic surgical techniques yield comparable long-term results. However, less invasive methods result in less tissue damage and a faster recovery for the patient. Conclusions: Effective treatment of CTS requires a thorough evaluation of the disease severity during the diagnostic phase. Conservative treatment plays a significant role in the early stages of CTS. However, surgical decompression of the median nerve remains the mainstay of causal treatment. Further standardized studies are needed to determine the best therapeutic strategies.