Question

which of the following patient presentations is most consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome? hand numbness that wakes them at night. fall on outstretched hand. wrist pain in flexion. paresthesia along the lateral dorsal hand.

Explanation:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome involves compression of the median nerve in the wrist, which causes sensory disturbances in the median nerve distribution (thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger). A classic symptom is nocturnal hand numbness that wakes the patient, as wrist flexion during sleep increases nerve compression. A fall on an outstretched hand is linked to wrist fractures (like Colles fracture), not carpal tunnel. Wrist pain in flexion is non-specific, and paresthesia on the lateral dorsal hand relates to the radial nerve, not the median nerve affected in carpal tunnel.

Answer:

Hand numbness that wakes them at night.