Research & Innovation
Publications
Anatomical variations and their association with carpal tunnel syndrome
PMU Authors
Rodolphe Poupardin, Karl Schwaiger, Gottfried Wechselberger, Elisabeth Russe
All Authors
Michaela Gruber, Agnes Wawrik, Florin Gasser, Barbara Ebner, Philipp Reitbauer, Robert Uzel, Rodolphe Poupardin, Maximilian Mahrhofer, Laurenz Weitgasser, Karl Schwaiger, Gottfried Schaffler, Gottfried Wechselberger, Elisabeth Russe
Journal association
INTERNATIONAL ORTHOPAEDICS
Abstract
PurposeThe prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the foremost upper extremity entrapment neuropathy is well-documented. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anatomical variations in the carpal tunnel and their potential role as risk factors for CTS.MethodsData from 447 CTS patients who underwent median nerve decompression between 2018 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. As a control group, 200 hands from 103 age- and sex-matched asymptomatic volunteers were further investigated.ResultsAnatomical variations identified through ultrasound in 19.7% of CTS hands and 16.0% of controls. Specifically, 10.3% of CTS hands had persistent median arteries, while 14.3% had bifid median nerves. Both variations occurred in 4.9% of CTS patients. In the control group, 13.0% had persistent median arteries and 11.0% had bifid median nerves, with both found in 8.0%.ConclusionsAnatomical variations were found in both, CTS patients and controls, but their prevalence did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting they are not independent risk factors for CTS.
Keywords
ULTRASOUND, Anatomical variations, Bifid median nerve, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Persistent arteria mediana, Persistent median artery