[Carpal tunnel syndrome after trauma].

UNLABELLED The carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequent illness with several etiological factors. Its appearance after trauma is rare. In a retrospective study its incidence and the trauma pattern were analyzed. From 1.1.95 to 31.12.99 144 median nerve decompression procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome were performed in 114 patients. Twelve patients (10.5%) had suffered a trauma in the recent or more distant past. There were six distal radius fractures, three metacarpal fractures, one finger fracture, one humeral shaft fracture and one distal avulsion of the biceps tendon. In eight patients the symptoms appeared 1-3 months after trauma, in four patients there was an interval of several years. In all twelve patients electroneurography revealed pathological parameters on the symptomatic side, but in ten patients the contralateral side was also affected although there were no symptoms. According to the criteria given by Assmus and Frobenius [1], five patients showed an obvious and three patients a possible posttraumatic carpal tunnel syndrome. In four patients a distinct relation to the trauma could not be proven. CONCLUSION The carpal tunnel syndrome after trauma is rare. Given the fact that the contralateral side in these patients was affected as well, a predisposition--due to a narrow carpal tunnel--is very likely. Its manifestation might be triggered by a pressure increase in the carpal tunnel as result of the trauma.