The Symptomatic Upper Extremity: An Algorithmic Approach to Diagnosis, Part 1

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The Symptomatic Upper Extremity: An Algorithmic Approach to Diagnosis, Part 1

Schimp, DJ


Numbness in an arm or hand is a common presenting or secondary patient complaint. Carpal tunnel syndrome poses a familiar mechanism and is frequently cited as the cause of the patient’s symptoms. While it may be the most common upper-extremity peripheral nerve entrapment neuropathy, a myriad of other nerve entrapment sites and pathologies are capable of producing upper-limb symptoms. In this article, an algorithmic approach by topographical region is utilized to narrow or expand the diagnostic focus.