Normal pregnancy: carpal tunnel syndrome: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Normal pregnancy: carpal tunnel syndrome

Sample item

A woman at 32 weeks has nocturnal tingling and numbness of the thumb, index and middle fingers, relieved by shaking the hand. What is the best initial management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Night wrist splints in neutral position and reassurance

Fluid retention in pregnancy compresses the median nerve at the carpal tunnel, and symptoms usually resolve after delivery. Splints and reassurance are first-line, with steroid injection or surgery reserved for severe or persistent cases. Imaging is unnecessary for classical symptoms.

Option by option

  • A. Surgical decompression at once

    Surgery is rarely needed in pregnancy.

  • B. Cervical spine MRI

    Classical median nerve symptoms need no spinal imaging.

  • C. Oral prednisolone for 3 months

    Prolonged systemic steroids are not appropriate for this self-limiting condition.

  • D. Night wrist splints in neutral position and reassurance (correct)

    Correct. Conservative splinting is first-line and the condition usually resolves postpartum.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Night wrist splints in neutral position and reassurance. Fluid retention in pregnancy compresses the median nerve at the carpal tunnel, and symptoms usually resolve after delivery.

Why is "Surgical decompression at once" not the answer?

Surgery is rarely needed in pregnancy.

Why is "Cervical spine MRI" not the answer?

Classical median nerve symptoms need no spinal imaging.

Why is "Oral prednisolone for 3 months" not the answer?

Prolonged systemic steroids are not appropriate for this self-limiting condition.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Normal pregnancy: carpal tunnel syndrome in OBG. Splints and reassurance are first-line, with steroid injection or surgery reserved for severe or persistent cases. Imaging is unnecessary for classical symptoms.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Normal pregnancy: carpal tunnel syndrome?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.