A condition characterised by attacks of pain and tingling in the first three or four fingers of one or both hands, sometimes radiating to the shoulder with reduced strength of grip and manual dexterity. The symptoms are often worse at night. It is caused by pressure on the median nerve as it passes under the strong ligament that lies across the front of the wrist. The condition may respond to use of a night splint on the hand; otherwise a corticosteroid injection under the ligament may help. If not, pressure is relieved by surgical division of the compressing ligament.