A Comparison of Tenosynovial and Transverse Carpal Ligament Biopsy for Amyloid Detection in Open Carpal Tunnel Release.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to compare differences in the incidence of amyloid deposition in tenosynovium (TS) versus transverse carpal ligament (TCL) biopsies obtained during open carpal tunnel release. We hypothesized that the incidence of amyloid would be similar between TCL and TS when obtaining both specimens from the same patient. METHODS: All primary, elective open carpal tunnel release cases that underwent biopsy for amyloid between January 2022 and September 2023 were reviewed. Tenosynovial and TCL specimens were independently evaluated by a pathologist to assess for amyloid. Demographic data were collected, and incidence of amyloid deposition was compared between the two samples. Agreement statistics, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for TCL, using TS as the reference standard. RESULTS: A total of 196 cases met either Tier 1 (n=180) or Tier 2 (n=16) biopsy criteria. Forty-eight cases were excluded for missed biopsies or laboratory processing errors, leaving 148 cases available for analysis. Amyloid deposition was present in 31 out of 148 (21%) TS specimens and 33 out of 148 (22%) TCL specimens. Overall, the results of the TS biopsy agreed with TCL biopsy in 138 out of 148 cases (93%). In the 10 cases for which the results of the TCL and TS biopsy differed, six cases had (+) TCL and (-) TS, and four cases had amyloid deposition in TS without evidence of deposition in the TCL. Sensitivity and specificity values for the TCL specimen were 87% and 95%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 82% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For cases of open carpal tunnel release undergoing biopsy, amyloid deposition was noted in 21% of TS specimens and 22% of TCL specimens. Results of TS and TCL biopsies obtained from the same patient agreed in 93% of cases. Single-source biopsy for amyloid represents a reasonable diagnostic approach. Future cost analyses should be performed to determine whether the addition of two biopsy sources to improve diagnostic accuracy is justified. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Has the median nerve involvement in rheumatoid arthritis been overemphasized? / O envolvimento do nervo mediano na artrite reumatoide tem sido excessivamente valorizado?

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well and widely recognized cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In the rheumatoid wrist, synovial expansion, joint erosions and ligamentous laxity result in compression of the median nerve due to increased intracarpal pressure. We evaluated the published studies to determine the prevalence of CTS and the characteristics of the median nerve in RA and its association with clinical parameters such as disease activity, disease duration and seropositivity. A total of 13 studies met the eligibility criteria. Pooled data from 8 studies with random selection of RA patients revealed that 86 out of 1561 (5.5%) subjects had CTS. Subclinical CTS, on the other hand, had a pooled prevalence of 14.0% (30/215). The cross sectional area of the median nerve of the RA patients without CTS were similar to the healthy controls. The vast majority of the studies (8/13) disclosed no significant relationship between the median nerve findings and the clinical or laboratory parameters in RA. The link between RA and the median nerve abnormalities has been overemphasized throughout the literature. The prevalence of CTS in RA is similar to the general population without any correlation between the median nerve characteristics and the clinical parameters of RA.

Resumo A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma causa bem e amplamente reconhecida de síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC). No punho acometido pela artrite reumatoide, a expansão sinovial, as erosões articulares e a frouxidão ligamentar resultam em compressão do nervo mediano decorrente do aumento da pressão intracarpal. Avaliaram-se os estudos publicados para determinar a prevalência de STC e as características do nervo mediano na AR e sua associação com parâmetros clínicos, como a atividade e duração da doença e a soropositividade. Preencheram os critérios de elegibilidade 13 estudos. Os dados agrupados dos oito estudos com seleção aleatória de pacientes com AR revelaram que 86 de 1.561 (5,5%) indivíduos tinham STC. Por outro lado, a STC subclínica teve uma prevalência combinada de 14% (30/215). A área de seção transversa do nervo mediano dos pacientes com AR sem STC foi semelhante à de controles saudáveis. A grande maioria dos estudos (8/13) não apresentou relação significativa entre os achados no nervo mediano e os parâmetros clínicos ou laboratoriais na AR. A ligação entre a AR e as anormalidades do nervo mediano foi excessivamente valorizada em toda a literatura. A prevalência de STC na AR é semelhante à da população em geral, sem qualquer correlação entre as características do nervo mediano e os parâmetros clínicos da AR.

Has the median nerve involvement in rheumatoid arthritis been overemphasized?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a well and widely recognized cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In the rheumatoid wrist, synovial expansion, joint erosions and ligamentous laxity result in compression of the median nerve due to increased intracarpal pressure. We evaluated the published studies to determine the prevalence of CTS and the characteristics of the median nerve in RA and its association with clinical parameters such as disease activity, disease duration and seropositivity. A total of 13 studies met the eligibility criteria. Pooled data from 8 studies with random selection of RA patients revealed that 86 out of 1561 (5.5%) subjects had CTS. Subclinical CTS, on the other hand, had a pooled prevalence of 14.0% (30/215). The cross sectional area of the median nerve of the RA patients without CTS were similar to the healthy controls. The vast majority of the studies (8/13) disclosed no significant relationship between the median nerve findings and the clinical or laboratory parameters in RA. The link between RA and the median nerve abnormalities has been overemphasized throughout the literature. The prevalence of CTS in RA is similar to the general population without any correlation between the median nerve characteristics and the clinical parameters of RA.

[Principal causes for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Principales causas de recidivas en el túnel del carpo.

The frequent causes of relapsing carpal tunnel syndrome were analyzed. Nine patients were followed-up from January 1st to December 31st, 2011. They underwent a physical exam and imaging tests. Pain was measured in all of them with the VAS, and the Brigham and Womens Hospital questionnaire was used to assess disability. Patients included seven females and two males; mean age was 52 years. Major causes for relapse included postoperative fibrosis with incomplete release in seven patients and incomplete release in two patients in whom minimally invasive approaches were used. Three of the nine patients had retractile scars. The main cause of relapse was postoperative fibrosis associated with the minima-lly invasive approach.

Se analizaron las causas frecuentes del síndrome del túnel del carpo recidivante. Seguimiento de una serie de casos del 1 de Enero al 31 Diciembre 2011; se estudiaron nueve pacientes mediante examen físico y de gabinete. A todos se les evaluó el dolor con escala visual análoga, cuestionario de Brigham and Womens Hospital para conocer la discapacidad. Siete pacientes correspondieron al género femenino y dos al masculino, con un promedio de edad de 52 años. Entre las principales causas de recidiva se encontró la fibrosis postquirúrgica acompañada de una liberación incompleta en siete pacientes; en dos pacientes se observó una liberación incompleta y se les realizó abordajes mínimos invasivos. Tres pacientes de los nueve presentaron cicatrices retráctiles. La principal causa de recidiva es la fibrosis postquirúrgica asociada al abordaje mínimamente invasivo.

Principales causas de recidivas en el túnel del carpo / Principal causes for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome

Resumen: Se analizaron las causas frecuentes del síndrome del túnel del carpo recidivante. Seguimiento de una serie de casos del 1 de Enero al 31 Diciembre 2011; se estudiaron nueve pacientes mediante examen físico y de gabinete. A todos se les evaluó el dolor con escala visual análoga, cuestionario de Brigham and Women's Hospital para conocer la discapacidad. Siete pacientes correspondieron al género femenino y dos al masculino, con un promedio de edad de 52 años. Entre las principales causas de recidiva se encontró la fibrosis postquirúrgica acompañada de una liberación incompleta en siete pacientes; en dos pacientes se observó una liberación incompleta y se les realizó abordajes mínimos invasivos. Tres pacientes de los nueve presentaron cicatrices retráctiles. La principal causa de recidiva es la fibrosis postquirúrgica asociada al abordaje mínimamente invasivo.

Abstract: The frequent causes of relapsing carpal tunnel syndrome were analyzed. Nine patients were followed-up from January 1st to December 31st, 2011. They underwent a physical exam and imaging tests. Pain was measured in all of them with the VAS, and the Brigham and Women's Hospital questionnaire was used to assess disability. Patients included seven females and two males; mean age was 52 years. Major causes for relapse included postoperative fibrosis with incomplete release in seven patients and incomplete release in two patients in whom minimally invasive approaches were used. Three of the nine patients had retractile scars. The main cause of relapse was postoperative fibrosis associated with the minima­lly invasive approach.

Retalho tenar adipofascial reverso para cobertura do nervo mediano hipertrofiado em macrodactilia / The reverse adipofascial thenar flap for coverage of the hypertrophied median nerve in macrodactyly

A macrodactilia é uma anomalia congênita infrequente, caracterizada pelo crescimento desproporcional dos tecidos ósseo, gorduroso, nervoso, vascular e dérmico nos dedos das mãos ou dos pés. Existem muitas teorias sobre a sua etiopatogenia, sendo a mais aceita a hiperestimulação por fatores de crescimento enviados através dos nervos. Foram descritos alguns casos associados com a síndrome do túnel do carpo. Apresenta-se um caso clínico de síndrome do túnel do carpo por hipertrofia do nervo mediano, evidenciando um aumento de conteúdo dentro do retináculo flexor, o qual foi tratado cirurgicamente com sucesso pela realização de uma retinaculotomia do ligamento anular do carpo junto a um retalho de transposição tenar adipofascial reverso da região tenariana hipertrofiada visando à cobertura do nervo mediano na região do punho.

Macrodactyly is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the disproportionate growth of bone, fat, nervous, vascular, and dermal tissue in the digits . There are many different theories about its etiopathogenesis, the most accepted being a hyperstimulation by growth factors conducted through nerves. A few cases have been described in conjunction with carpal tunnel syndrome. Here, a clinical case of carpal tunnel syndrome due to hypertrophy of the median nerve is presented, showing an increase of content within the flexor retinaculum. Successful surgical treatment was accomplished by conducting a retinaculotomy of the anterior annular ligament along with a reverse transposition adipofascial flap of the hypertrophied thenar region for coverage of the median nerve at the wrist.

Estudo da auditoria de contas em um hospital de ensino / Estudio de la auditoría de cuentas en un hospital de enseñanza / Study of billing audits in a teaching hospital

RESUMOObjetivos:verificar os itens componentes das contas hospitalares, conferidos por enfermeiros auditores, que mais recebem ajustes no momento da pré-análise; identificar o impacto dos ajustes no faturamento das contas analisadas por enfermeiros e médicos auditores e identificar as glosas relacionadas aos itens conferidos pela equipe de auditoria.Método:pesquisa quantitativa exploratória, descritiva, do tipo estudo de caso único.Resultados:após a análise de 2.613 contas constatou-se que o item mais incluído por enfermeiros foram gases (90,5%) e o mais excluído medicamentos de internação (41,2%). Materiais de hemodinâmica; gases e equipamentos foram os que mais impactaram nos ajustes positivos. Os ajustes negativos decorreram de lançamentos indevidos nas contas e não geraram prejuízos de faturamento. Do total de glosas 52,24% referiu-se à pré-análise dos enfermeiros e 47,76% a dos médicos.Conclusão:a presente investigação do processo de pré-análise fornece subsídios que contribuem para o avanço no conhecimento sobre a auditoria de contas hospitalares.

RESUMENObjetivos:comprobar los elementos que componen las cuentas del hospital, controladas por enfermeras auditores que reciben más ajustes en el momento de pre-análisis, identifi car el impacto de los ajustes a la facturación de las cuentas examinadas por las enfermeras y los médicos auditores; identifi car las glosas relacionadas con los puntos otorgados por equipo de auditoría.Método:estudio cuantitativo, exploratorio, descriptivo, tipo de investigación de caso único.Resultados:después de análisis de 2613 cuentas se encontró que el elemento más incluido por el enfermeros fue gas (90,5%) y lo más excluido fue hospitalización medicamentos (41,2%). Materiales de gases y equipos hemodinámicamente fueron los más afectados en los ajustes positivos. Los ajustes negativos fueron el resultado de errores en las cuentas y no generan pérdidas de ingresos. El rechazo total fue de 52,24% en relación a la pre-análisis de las enfermeras y de 47,76% de los médicos.Conclusión:esta investigación del proceso de preanálisis proporciona subsidios que contribuyen al avance de los conocimientos sobre la auditoría de las cuentas de los hospitales.

ABSTRACTObjectives:to determine which component items of hospital bills, examined by nurse auditors, were adjusted the most during pre-analysis; to identify the impact upon revenue caused by the adjustments to bills analyzed by physician and nurse auditors; and to identify disallowances related to items checked by the audit team.Method:quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, singlecase study.Results:after analysis of 2,613 bills, it was found that the item most included by nurses was gas (90.5%) and the most excluded was inpatient drugs (41.2%). Hemodynamics materials, gases and equipment had the greatest impact on upward adjustments. Downward adjustments were the result of improper entries on bills and did not generate revenue losses. Of total disallowances, 52.24% were related to the pre-analysis of nurses and 47.76% to that of physicians.Conclusion:this study of the pre-analysis process provides input that enhances knowledge about hospital bill audits.

Anatomia patológica da sinóvia de pacientes submetidos à liberação do túnel do carpo / Pathological study of the synovial tissue of patients who underwent open carpal tunnel release

OBJETIVO: Verificar se a biópsia da sinóvia do túnel do carpo é capaz de identificar patologias sistêmicas que não foram diagnosticadas clinicamente ou por exames laboratoriais. MÉTODO: 46 exames anatomopatológicos da sinóvia dos tendões flexores no túnel do carpo de pacientes submetidos à liberação aberta para o tratamento desta síndrome compressiva foram, retrospectivamente, analisados. Os autores propuseram uma nova classificação para a lesão de acordo com a intensidade do processo inflamatório. RESULTADOS: O exame anatomopatológico mostrou que 56,6 por cento das lâminas foram classificadas como grau I (sem alterações inflamatórias), 32,6 por cento, grau II (infiltrado leucocitário e fibrose discretos, além de hialinose), 4,3 por cento, grau III (infiltrado leucocitário e fibrose intensos, presença de fibrina e neoformação vascular) e 6,5 por cento, grau IV (as alterações acima descritas associadas à presença de calcificação local e células gigantes). Dois pacientes com amiloidose foram classificados como graus I e II e não foram encontrados depósitos de material amilóide em suas lâminas. Dois pacientes portadores de hiperparatireoidismo e outro com insuficiência renal crônica foram classificados como grau IV. CONCLUSÃO: A realização da biópsia da sinóvia do túnel do carpo, além de agregar custos adicionais ao procedimento, não possibilitou o diagnóstico precoce de doenças sistêmicas em pacientes portadores de síndrome do túnel do carpo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a biopsy of the synovia of the carpal tunnel is able to identify systemic diseases that were not diagnosed by clinical examination and laboratory tests. METHODS: Anatomical pathology P examinations of synovial tissue were performed in 46 patients that underwent open carpal tunnel release. Anatomical pathology examination with hematoxylin-eosin staining determined the intensity of the inflammatory process and the authors proposed a new classification of the injury according to the intensity of the inflammatory process. RESULTS: The anatomical pathology examination showed that 56.6 percent were classified as grade I (unchanged inflammation), 32.6 percent, grade II (leukocyte infiltration and discreetmoderate fibrosis), 4.3 percent, grade III (leukocyte infiltrate and intense fibrosis, the presence of fibrin and vascular neoformation) and 6.5 percent, grade IV (changes described above associated with the presence of local calcification and giant cells). Two patients with amyloidosis were classified as grade I and II and no stockpiles of amyloid material were found on their slides. Two patients with hyperparathyroidism and another with chronic kidney failure were classified as grade IV. CONCLUSION: Synovial biopsy of the carpal tunnel did not make early diagnosis of potential systemic diseases possiblein patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, and adds extra costs to the procedure.

[The cross-sectional area of the median nerve by sonography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Determinación ultrasonográfica del área de corte transversal del nervio mediano en síndrome del túnel carpiano.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the median nerve cross-sectional area (MNCSA) at the carpal tunnel (CT) level by sonography (S) in a Mexican population. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional design study with a nonprobabilistic sampling with 50 women and 50 men in good health were submitted for measuring MNCSA at the level of the CT. Other variables like sex; side and degree of daily hand activity were also studied. The analysis was made by descriptive statistics, and Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: The mean MNCSA was 0.063 +/- 0.015 cm(2), in women; in men it was 0.072 +/- 0.018 cm(2); the difference was significant (p < 0.004). The median MNCSA among women was 0.062 cm(2) in the right side and 0.060 cm(2) in the left (90th percentile for both hands of 0.084 cm(2)); in men, it was of 0.070 cm(2) in the right hand and of 0.069 cm(2) in the left (90th percentile for both hands of 0.097 cm(2)). The difference between women and men was significant in each side, but not between right and left hands (p = 0.21). There was no correlation between age and MNCSA on either side, or with hand activity. CONCLUSIONS: A MNCSA value of 0.1 cm(2) for men and 0.09 cm(2) for women is proposed as a standard parameter for the Mexican population.

Magnetic resonance imaging of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: correlation with clinical findings and electrophysiological investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical evaluation, electrophysiological investigation and magnetic resonance findings in assessing the severity of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-four patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were prospectively recruited. Clinical evaluation included symptoms severity score and two-point discrimination, sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities were determined by electroneuromyography and imaging parameters were obtained after wrist magnetic resonance. The Wilcoxon test was used to define the differences between measurements of median nerve area. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to determine the relationships between all the measured parameters. RESULTS: Cross-sectional area of median nerve was smaller at hamate level than at radio-ulnar joint and pisiform levels (p<0.001). With exception of median nerve area at hamate level, there was a lower degree of correlation between MRI parameters and findings obtained by clinical assessments and electrophysiological measurements. The median nerve area at hamate level correlated negatively with duration of symptoms, two-point discrimination, symptoms severity score and positively with sensory nerve conduction velocity (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, median nerve area measured by wrist magnetic resonance at hamate level may be considered as a valuable indicator to grading the severity of disease.

[Fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve: case report]. / Hamartoma fibrolipomatoso de nervo mediano: relato de caso.

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma is a rare benign neoplasm that in some cases is associated with macrodactylia. We describe a 31-year-old man who had a tissue enlargement in the wrist, second and third fingers of the left hand since infancy. At 23-years-old he began with continuous, progressive and high intensity pain that occurred more frequently at night, localized in the left hand. It was associated with paraesthesias and hypostesias predominantly at the fingers described above. Investigation with X-ray, ultrasonography, electrodiagnosis, magnetic resonance image of the left wrist and hand showed carpal tunnel syndrome with macrodactylia by fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve. The patient did not a have good response to clinical therapy, so he was submitted to a surgical decompression of the left carpal tunnel, and after three months of follow up is asymptomatic.

Hamartoma fibrolipomatoso de nervo mediano: relato de caso / Fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve: case report

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma is a rare benign neoplasm that in some cases is associated with macrodactylia. We describe a 31-year-old man who had a tissue enlargement in the wrist, second and third fingers of the left hand since infancy. At 23-years-old he began with continuous, progressive and high intensity pain that occurred more frequently at night, localized in the left hand. It was associated with paraesthesias and hypostesias predominantly at the fingers described above. Investigation with X-ray, ultrasonography, electrodiagnosis, magnetic resonance image of the left wrist and hand showed carpal tunnel syndrome with macrodactylia by fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve. The patient did not a have good response to clinical therapy, so he was submitted to a surgical decompression of the left carpal tunnel, and after three months of follow up is asymptomatic.

O hamartoma fibrolipomatoso é neoplasia benigna rara que em alguns casos esta associada com macrodactilia. Descrevemos o caso de homem de 31 anos que apresentava desde o nascimento aumento de volume em região de punho, segundo e terceiro quirodáctilos da mão esquerda. Aos 23 anos iniciou dor contínua, de forte intensidade, predominante no período noturno e de evolução progressiva em mão esquerda. Associada à dor havia hipoestesia e parestesias de predomínio nos segundo e terceiro quirodáctilos esquerdos. A investigação complementar com radiografia, ultrassonografia, estudo eletrofisiológico e ressonância magnética de mão e punho esquerdos confirmaram a suspeita de síndrome do túnel do carpo secundária a macrodactilia com hamartoma fibrolipomatoso do nervo mediano. O paciente foi submetido à descompressão cirúrgica do túnel do carpo esquerdo devido a ausência de resposta ao tratamento clínico e evoluiu com melhora dos sintomas em avaliação após três meses do procedimento.

Síndrome del túnel carpiano: vinculación básico clínica / Syndrome of the carpal tunnel: basic-clinic tie

Se comenta acerca de la importancia de la mano en la evolución del hombre y la necesidad de su integridad anatómica para mantener su funcionalidad. Se realiza vinculación básico-clínica con una patología de relativa frecuencia como es el Síndrome del Túnel Carpiano, señalando algunos factores que inciden en su etiología y poniendo a consideración la posibilidad de su prevención...

The relationship between symptoms and electrophysiological detected compression of the median nerve at the wrist.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms and compression of the median nerve at the wrist in symptomatic patients. METHODS: A total of 250 patients were selected among those referred for electrodiagnostic evaluation with complaints involving hand or wrist. Primary and secondary symptoms were extracted from the answers to the instrument proposed by Levine et al. [J Bone Joint Surg Am 1993;75:1585]. The association of symptoms and the presence of compression of the median nerve at the wrist were ascertained through a multiple logistic regression test. RESULTS: Secondary symptoms (pain and weakness) were inversely associated with the presence of median nerve compression. Furthermore, primary symptoms (paresthesia, disability and nocturnal symptom) occurred similarly in patients with and without electrophysiologic findings of median nerve compression at the wrist.

Axonal degeneration in association with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Median nerve entrapment in the palm to wrist segment is known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Electromyography is the best evaluation test to confirm the disease, as it shows a median reduced conduction velocity and/or conduction block; however, the usual CTS electrodiagnostic tests do not separate segmental demyelination alone from segmental demyelination plus secondary axonal degeneration. We studied 100 hands from CTS patients (classified as mild, moderate, and severe), and 50 hands from normal subjects. The median palmar sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude was measured and compared between the two groups. It would be expected that SNAP was normal if no axonal degeneration had occurred. The results showed that in mild CTS group and part of moderate CTS group SNAP amplitude was normal, whereas in severe CTS group, and part of moderate group SNAP amplitude was reduced, proving that axonal degeneration was involved. As it is well stated that axonal lesions have worse prognosis than segmental demyelinating ones, this simple test may help to preditic the CTS outcome and treatment.

Axonal degeneration in association with carpal tunnel syndrome

Median nerve entrapment in the palm to wrist segment is known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Electromyography is the best evaluation test to confirm the disease, as it shows a median reduced conduction velocity and/or conduction block; however, the usual CTS electrodiagnostic tests do not separate segmental demyelination alone from segmental demyelination plus secondary axonal degeneration. We studied 100 hands from CTS patients (classified as mild, moderate, and severe), and 50 hands from normal subjects. The median palmar sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude was measured and compared between the two groups. It would be expected that SNAP was normal if no axonal degeneration had occurred. The results showed that in mild CTS group and part of moderate CTS group SNAP amplitude was normal, whereas in severe CTS group, and part of moderate group SNAP amplitude was reduced, proving that axonal degeneration was involved. As it is well stated that axonal lesions have worse prognosis than segmental demyelinating ones, this simple test may help to preditic the CTS outcome and treatment

[Evaluation of motor and sensory neuroconduction of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated with non-coherent light emitted by gallium arsenic diodes]. / Evaluación de la neuroconducción motora y sensitiva del nervio mediano en pacientes portadores de síndrome del túnel del carpo tratados con luz no coherente emitida por diodos de arseniuro de galio.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment selection in the carpal tunnel syndrome according to the damage of the median nerve is important and all of these have adverse effects. A good alternative without undesired reactions is irradiation of the carpal tunnel with not coherent light between 920 and 940 nm emitted by gallium arsenide diodes, resembling the physic and therapeutic laser effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six female patients with idiopathic middle carpal tunnel syndrome were irradiated 15 minutes daily during three weeks. The median nerve motor and sensitive neuroconduction was studied before and immediately after the treatment. RESULTS: The abnormal neuroconduction variables (latency, amplitude and velocity conduction) did not modify when treatment concluded, in spite of all the patients reported disappearance of pain and numbness in damaged hands. CONCLUSIONS: Not coherent light does not change the fibers functional state explored by conventional neuroconductions techniques. It remains to know if this light produces fine fibers improvement.

Wrist and palm indexes in carpal tunnel syndrome.

According to median sensory latency >/= 3.7 ms (wrist-index finger [WIF], 14 cm), median/ulnar sensory latency difference to ring finger >/= 0.5 ms (14 cm) or median midpalm (8 cm) latency >/= 2.3 ms (all peak-measured), 141 Brazilian symptomatic patients (238 hands) have CTS confirmation. Wrist ratio (depth divided by width, WR) and a new wrist/palm ratio (wrist depth divided by the distance between distal wrist crease to the third digit metacarpophalangeal crease, WPR) were measured in all cases. Previous surgery/peripheral neuropathy were excluded; mean age 50.3 years; 90.8% female. Control subjects (486 hands) have mean age 43.0 years; 96.7% female. The mean WR in controls was 0.694 against 0.699, 0.703, 0.707 and 0.721 in CTS groups of progressive WIF severity. The mean WPR in controls was 0.374 against 0.376, 0.382, 0.387 and 0.403 in CTS groups of WIF progressive severity. Both were statistically significant for the last two groups (WIF > 4.4 ms, moderate, and, WIF unrecordable, severe). BMI increases togetherwith CTS severity and WR. It was concluded that both WR/WPR have a progressive correlation with the severity of CTS but with statistically significance only in groups moderate and severe. In these groups both WR and BMI have progressive increase and we believe that the latter could be a risk factor as important as important WR/WPR.

Abnormal course of the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery.

The structures in the carpal tunnel are the flexor muscle tendons and their sheaths and the median n. Due to the inflexibility of its walls, any swelling of its contents that produces decrease of its volume, may compress the median n. There are many possible causes of nerve compression, such as the presence of arteries in this tunnel [3, 13]. The carpal tunnels of 70 hands of 35 adult cadavers of both sexes, whose age ranged from 23 to 77 years, were studied by dissection. An abnormal course of the superficial palmar branch of the radial a. was found in 2 hands (2.85%). This vascular branch passed through the carpal tunnel. This unusual course of the superficial palmar branch of the radial a. is described with details correlating its presence in the carpal tunnel with the median n.