What condition is characterized by median nerve entrapment?

The condition characterized by median nerve entrapment is primarily carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.

While pronator teres syndrome also involves median nerve entrapment, it occurs at the elbow as the median nerve passes between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle. This can lead to similar symptoms but is distinct from carpal tunnel syndrome, which is more common and specifically involves the wrist region.

De Quervain's tenosynovitis refers to inflammation of the tendons in the first dorsal compartment of the wrist and does not involve median nerve entrapment. Similarly, thoracic outlet syndrome involves compression of neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet region, often affecting the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels, rather than specifically entrapment of the median nerve.

In essence, the defining characteristic of carpal tunnel syndrome is the entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist, making it the most relevant condition associated with this specific nerve compression.