Project description:Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common and disabling condition of the hand caused by entrapment of the median nerve at the level of the wrist. It is the commonest entrapment neuropathy, with estimates of prevalence ranging between 5-10%1–3. We undertook the first GWAS to date of an entrapment neuropathy, using 12,106 CTS cases identified in UK Biobank and 387,347 controls. We discovered 13 novel susceptibility loci for CTS with p≤5x10-8. We identified likely causal genes in the pathogenesis of CTS, including ADAMTS17, ADAMTS10 and EFEMP1, and demonstrated expression of these genes in surgically resected tenosynovium from CTS patients. We suggest that variants within genes implicated in growth and extracellular matrix architecture contribute to the genetic predisposition to CTS.
Project description:ObjectiveEndoscopic carpal tunnel release has become increasingly popular and has shown the advantage of early recovery of hand function with minimal morbidity. In this systematic review, we aimed to summarize the currently available data and describe the reported advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.MethodsIn this study, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, which is a set of reporting requirements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The search strategy with MeSH terms was "MeSH (carpal tunnel syndrome) AND (endoscopic)" Filters: in the last 5 years, English-on February 27th, 2022. A total of 131 articles fulfilled the first screening criteria. A detailed analysis of those articles identified 39 that matched the criteria, of which 14 were considered appropriate for this analysis after applying the complete inclusion and exclusion criteria.ResultsA total of 14 studies met the eligibility criteria. Analysis of those studies found that all types of portals in endoscopic carpal tunnel release reduced postoperative pain at a short-term follow-up. There was no evidence to suggest the superiority of the single- or two-portal techniques in terms of outcomes. In terms of pain relief, symptom resolution, patient satisfaction, duration to return to work, and adverse events, this early use of endoscopic carpal tunnel release produced satisfactory outcomes. Further studies comparing the number of portals are needed.ConclusionEndoscopic carpal tunnel surgery for treating carpal tunnel syndrome is effective and both single- and dual-portal techniques provide advantages in terms of early recovery and minimal morbidity.
Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate changes in the median nerve, retinaculum, and carpal tunnel on ultrasound after successful endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR).Materials and methodsThis prospective study involved 37 wrists in 35 patients (5 male, 30 female; mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 56.9 ± 6.7 years) with primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). An in-house developed scoring system (0-3) was used to gauge the clinical improvement after ECTR. Ultrasound was performed before ECTR, and at 1, 3, and 12 months post-ECTR. Changes in the median nerve, flexor retinaculum, and carpal tunnel morphology on ultrasound after ECTR were analyzed. Ultrasound parameters for different clinical improvement groups were compared.ResultsAll patients improved clinically after ECTR. The average clinical improvement score ± SD at 12 months post-ECTR was 2.2 ± 0.7. The median nerve cross-sectional area proximal and distal to the tunnel decreased at all time intervals post-ECTR but remained swollen compared to normal values. Serial changes in the median nerve caliber and retinacular bowing after ECTR were more pronounced at the tunnel outlet than at the tunnel inlet. The flexor retinaculum had reformed in 25 (68%) of 37 wrists after 12 months.ConclusionPostoperative changes in median nerve and retinaculum parameters were most pronounced at the tunnel outlet. Even in patients with clinical improvement after ECTR, nearly all ultrasound parameters remain abnormal at one year post-ECTR. These ultrasound parameters should not necessarily be relied upon to diagnose persistent CTS after ECTR.
Project description:Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among dental surgeons and the effect of possible moderators on it. Methods: A systematic literature search (Medline and Scopus databases) was conducted independently by two reviewers. Only observational studies that examined specifically the prevalence rates of CTS among dentists were included. Quality assessment was performed. The pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated. Outlier and influential analysis were conducted. Moderator analysis was performed in order the effect of categorical and continuous variables on the estimated prevalence to be investigated. Results: In total, ten eligible studies (3,547 participants) were finally included in this meta-analysis. Two of them were estimated as high quality (low risk of bias) and the remaining ones as moderate quality (moderate risk of bias). The overall prevalence of CTS among dental surgeons was estimated as 9.87% (95%CI 6.84%-14.03%) with significant heterogeneity between studies. No study was identified as influential. Potential sources of heterogeneity were not identified through meta-regression analysis. In the subgroup analysis the prevalence was 12.47% (95%CI 6.38%-22.95%) for the group identified as having CTS through medical history and at least clinical examination or electrodiagnostic testing and 8.56% (95%CI 5.53%-13.01%) among those who identified solely through questionnaire. Conclusions: Our findings are important to provide the pooled prevalence of CTS among dentists. Our results were based on highly heterogeneous studies. Our study reports a considerable prevalence, consequently, significance of awareness among dental surgeons regarding the etiology of this issue is more than necessary. More studies need to be conducted that could guide researchers in order this issue to be fully investigated.
Project description:PurposeThis review aims to compare recovery outcomes of conservative, early operative, and a combination of conservative and operative management for acute carpal tunnel syndrome (ACTS).MethodsA literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL from 1970 to 2022 was conducted using the keywords carpal tunnel syndrome and acute nerve compression. ACTS was defined as a case within 12 weeks of symptom onset. Primary data extracted included causes (traumatic or atraumatic), symptom duration (<1 day, 1-7 days, or 8-84 days), intervention (surgical, conservative, or conservative then surgical), follow-up duration, and outcome (full recovery or non-full recovery). Logistic regression analyses and χ2 tests were performed to investigate associations among these variables.ResultsA total of 197 patients involving 127 (64.5%) traumatic and 70 (35.3%) atraumatic cases were included. Forty-seven percent of patients were managed conservatively followed by surgery, 30% conservative only, and 23% surgery only. The traumatic group was associated with better recovery than the atraumatic group. Recovery outcomes were not associated with symptom duration or follow-up time. The choice of intervention was not associated with traumatic or atraumatic etiology, nor did it affect recovery outcomes in either group.ConclusionsTraumatic ACTS is associated with better recovery outcomes than atraumatic etiologies. Surgical intervention was not found to be associated with better outcomes than conservative management, regardless of the etiologies. Further prospective studies are warranted to compare surgical versus conservative management.Clinical relevanceCurrently, there are no guidelines for the best management of ACTS, and it is not known if early or delayed surgical treatment is optimal. This review compiles the current evidence and identifies gaps in the literature, highlighting the need for further investigation to provide the best clinical practice.
Project description:ObjectiveCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive focal mononeuropathy, and the increased incidence in postmenopausal and pregnant women suggests its association with oestrogen. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the occurrence of CTS.DesignPopulation-based case-control study.SettingNationwide health insurance programme operated by the government with a near 100% coverage rate.ParticipantsWe identified women ≥45 years old in the Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, which contains data on a representative sample of one million enrollees. After exclusion of those who were diagnosed with CTS before the prescription of HRT, a total of 118 309 participants were included and followed up for 15 years starting from 1 January 1996. Both HRT and occurrence of CTS were identified using the insurance claims.Main outcome measuresWe identified incident patients of CTS and evaluated the association between HRT and CTS by calculating the OR.ResultsOf the 4535 participants who developed CTS during the study period, 2334 (51.5%) were HRT recipients. In participants without CTS, the proportion of HRT recipients was 28.1%, yielding an OR of 2.72 with a 95% CI of 2.56 to 2.88. After adjustment for age, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, gout and obesity, the OR of CTS associated with HRT was 2.04 (95% CI 1.91 to 2.17). While HRT, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and gout had similar effects on CTS across all age groups, hypothyroidism and obesity had different effects on different groups.ConclusionThis study observed a positive association between HRT and CTS, independent of age, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, gout and obesity. While the ORs of CTS associated with HRT were similar across age groups, those associated with hypothyroidism and obesity were not, indicating effect modifications by age.
Project description:BackgroundThe evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is insufficient. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture on CTS through a comprehensive literature search.MethodsEnglish and Chinese databases were searched from their inceptions until 27 October 2022 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of acupuncture on CTS. Two reviewers independently selected studies that met the eligibility criteria, extracted the required data, assessed the risk of bias using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (ROB 2), and evaluated the quality of reporting for acupuncture interventions using the Revised Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA). The primary outcomes were symptom severity and functional status, while secondary outcomes included pain intensity, responder rate, and electrophysiological parameters. Review Manager software (version 5.4.1) was used for data analysis. The certainty of the evidence was rated with GRADEpro (version 3.6) software.ResultsWe included 16 RCTs with a total of 1,025 subjects. The overall risk of bias was rated as low in one RCT, some concerns in 14, and high in one. Compared with night splints, acupuncture alone was more effective in relieving pain, but there were no differences in symptom severity and functional status. Acupuncture alone had no advantage over medicine in improving symptom severity and electrophysiological parameters. As an adjunctive treatment, acupuncture might benefit CTS in terms of symptom severity, functional status, pain intensity, and electrophysiological parameters, and it was superior to medicine in improving the above outcomes. Few acupuncture-related adverse events were reported. The above evidence had a low or very low degree of certainty.ConclusionAcupuncture as an adjunctive treatment may be effective for patients with CTS. Additionally, more rigorous studies with objective outcomes are needed to investigate the effect of acupuncture in contrast with sham acupuncture or other active treatments.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=329925, identifier CRD42022329925.