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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome F036

Document
Last amended 
30 June 2022
Current RMA Instruments
Reasonable Hypothesis SOP93 of 2021
Balance of Probabilities SOP 94 of 2021
Changes from previous instruments

SOP Bulletin 224

 ICD Coding
  • ICD-10-AM Codes: G56.0
Brief description

This condition affects the thumb, index and middle fingers and half of the ring finger.  It results in pain and numbness, and weakness in some cases, due to pressure on / entrapment of the median nerve in the wrist.

Confirming the diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on characteristic clinical history and examination findings. Electrophysiological testing can often be used to help confirm the diagnosis but it is not always required.

The appropriate specialist for this condition is a neurologist or orthopaedic (hand) surgeon.

Additional diagnoses covered by SOP
  • Median nerve entrapment at the wrist
Conditions not covered by SOP
  • anterior interosseous syndrome#
  • cervical radiculopathy - may be covered by thoracic outlet syndrome SOP, or cervical spondylosis SOP, or be non-SOP
  • cubital tunnel syndrome- ulnar neuropathy at the elbow SOP
  • median nerve neuritis#
  • pronator syndrome#
  • thoracic outlet syndrome*
  • ulnar tunnel syndrome

* another SOP applies

# non-SOP condition

Clinical onset

Clinical onset will be when symptoms (pain, parasthesia, weakness) in the hand, in the median nerve distribution, first began. 

Clinical worsening

A clinical course involving periods of remission and exacerbation is common.  There may be progression from intermittent to persistent sensory symptoms, and later, to the development of motor symptoms (weakness).