Korean J Pain.  2014 Apr;27(2):112-117. 10.3344/kjp.2014.27.2.112.

Median Nerve Injuries Caused by Carpal Tunnel Injections

• Kim HJ
• Park SH

• KMID: 2074056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2014.27.2.112

Abstract

Local steroid injections are widely used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve injury is the most serious complication in association with carpal tunnel injections although the incidence is low. A median nerve injury will be presented with shooting pain at the injection time along with other sensory distortion, motor weakness and muscle atrophy. The management includes a conservative treatment and a surgical exploration. Carpal tunnel injections should be used at a minimum only. If such steroid injection is required, an appropriate needle positioning is vital for the nerve injury prevention. The patient should not be heavily sedated and should be encouraged to inform experiences of numbness/paresthesia during the procedure immediately.

Keyword

carpal tunnel syndrome; median nerve; steroid

MeSH Terms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Humans
Incidence
Median Nerve*
Muscular Atrophy
Needles

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel injection. It shows transducer position for transverse imaging of the carpal tunnel and in-plane needle approach. (B) Transverse sonogram of the left carpal tunnel in a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome. Arrows indicate flexor retinaculum, Asterisk: anechoic injectate, N: needle, MN: median nerve, T: flexor tendons (These figures are quoted from the paper of Smith et al. [19] after permission.).

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