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MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist. It is formed by wrist bones on the bottom and sides, and a tough band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament on top. Muscle tendons and the median nerve pass through the carpal tunnel. The median nerve controls muscles in the palm and base of the thumb, allowing them to move. It also provides feeling to the thumb and nearby 2 and 1/2 fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where tissue swelling causes pressure to build up within the carpal tunnel. This puts pressure on the median nerve. Over time, median nerve pressure results in symptoms in the areas of hand it supplies. Common symptoms in these areas are pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include a smaller carpal tunnel from being female or from genes passed down from parents, wrist injuries, other medical conditions that cause inflammation, fluid buildup, or nerve damage such as diabetes, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and hypothyroidism, and repetitive hand or wrist motions. A common treatment for mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome is keeping the wrist in a neutral position by wearing a brace or splint. In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs may help relieve pain. A doctor may also recommend a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation and swelling. For moderate to severe symptoms, a doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called carpal tunnel release. This procedure may be done as an open procedure through an incision in the palm and wrist. Or it may be done as an endoscopic procedure through a small keyhole incision. The surgeon will perform this procedure with an endoscope, which is a device containing a tiny camera and surgical instruments. In both procedures, the transverse carpal ligament will be cut to relieve pressure on the median nerve. At the end of either procedure, the incision will be closed with sutures.
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Todd J. Kenyon
Attorney at Law
Minneapolis, MN
"This past year, your company prepared three medical illustrations for our cases; two in which we received six figure awards; one in which we received a substantial seven figure award. I believe in large part, the amounts obtained were due to the vivid illustrations of my clients' injuries and the impact on the finder of fact."
Donald W. Marcari
Marcari Russotto & Spencer, P.C.
Chesapeake, VA
"I just wanted to let you know that after several days on trial, I settled
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Michael Gunzburg, Esq.
Attorney at Law.
New York, NY
"Medical Legal Art wins our firm's highest accolades for professionalism and
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Jeanne Dolan, BSRN, AlNC Legal Nurse Consultant Golden Valley, MN
Medical Legal Art creates medical demonstrative evidence (medical
illustrations, drawings, pictures, graphics, charts, medical animations,
anatomical models, and interactive presentations) for use during legal
proceedings, including research, demand letters, client conferences,
depositions, arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, mock jury
trials and for use in the courtroom. We do not provide legal or medical
advice. If you have legal questions, you should find a lawyer with whom you
can discuss your case issues. If you have medical questions, you should seek the advice of a healthcare provider.