Features of the flexor retinaculum and its individual variation in carpal tunnel syndrome predisposition - a systematic review

Abstract The flexor retinaculum is a structure located in the wrist, which spreads between the bones forming the carpal tunnel. Its task is to maintain the relative stabilization and protection of incorporated structures. It is also an attachment for the thenar muscles, causing biomechanical interactions in the wrist. Pathologies occurring in the carpal tunnel structures often cause pressure increase, leading to compression of the median nerve, causing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This work aims to review literature knowledge and compile research outcomes in the PubMED and Google scholar databases. The results indicate the variability in size and aspects of flexor retinaculum due to gender, and the relationship between gender and the incidence of CTS. The data also show the flexor retinaculum’s molecular variability and environmental factors’ potential impact on these changes. This article demonstrates how anatomical conditions and physical features influence CTS development.