What is the most common mononeuropathy?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is recognized as the most common mononeuropathy, primarily because it involves compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This condition is prevalent in various populations due to factors such as repetitive wrist motions, certain medical conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis, which can predispose individuals to nerve compression syndromes.

The symptoms typically associated with carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, tingling, and numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, which correspond to the areas innervated by the median nerve. This condition is often diagnosed through clinical evaluation and can be confirmed with nerve conduction studies.

In contrast, while ulnar nerve entrapment, common peroneal nerve palsy, and radial nerve compression are also common types of mononeuropathies, they do not match the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Each of these conditions presents with specific symptoms related to the respective nerve involved, but they occur less frequently in the general population compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, which further solidifies its status as the most common variant in this category.