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Carpal Canal Stenosis May Predict Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Outcome

Identification of carpal canal stenosis may be important in selecting candidates for symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) treatment.

This is the suggestion following a study of the role of carpal canal stenosis as a predictor of outcomes in patients who have received surgical treatment for CTS.

Thirty-one female patients participated in this study by Drs S I Bekkelund and C Pierre-Jerome from the Department of Neurology, Tromso University Hospital, and the Department of Radiology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. All of the women had clinically and neurophysiologically confirmed CTS.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed of the wrists and then quantitatively calculated the focal narrowest point of the tunnel using a computerized analyser. Patient assessments of CTS-related symptoms was obtained through a visual analogue scale before and again at six months after treatment.

Overall, 17 (56%) patients showed improvement in all symptoms after the treatment.

The focal narrowest point of the tunnel was identified at its distal third in all of the patients, at 8 mm from the outlet.

As for the median area of the narrowest point in the 17 patients who improved clinically, it was 238.9 mm˛ as compared with 269.8 mm˛ in the remaining 14 patients (P=0.046).
Acta Neurol Scand 2003 Feb;107:2:102-5. "Does carpal canal stenosis predict outcome in women with carpal tunnel syndrome?"

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