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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in juvenile chronic arthritis
Oya Unal1, Levent Ozçakar, Alp Cetin
1Hacettepe University Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Carpal tunnel syndrome is rare in children, often linked to genetic or metabolic issues. This report details the first known case of severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in a child with juvenile chronic arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is uncommon in pediatric populations, typically associated with underlying genetic or metabolic conditions.
- Clinical presentation of pediatric CTS includes sensory and motor disturbances in the hand, such as burning pain, paresthesia, and weakness.
Observation:
- This case report describes a pediatric patient diagnosed with juvenile chronic arthritis.
- The patient presented with severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition rarely seen in this demographic.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome was confirmed through electrodiagnostic studies, revealing prolonged distal latency times.
- This represents the first documented instance of severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in a patient with juvenile chronic arthritis.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering carpal tunnel syndrome in pediatric patients with rheumatic diseases.
- Suggests a potential link between juvenile chronic arthritis and the development of severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Underscores the need for comprehensive electrodiagnostic evaluation in children presenting with hand symptoms and concurrent chronic inflammatory conditions.
Abstract:
Carpal tunnel syndrome, although rare, is known to occur in children mainly because of genetic or metabolic disorders. The clinical findings are variable and include symptoms of burning pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness or atrophy in the hands of the patients. It is usually diagnosed by demonstration of prolonged distal latency times during the electrodiagnostic studies. Reported here is a patient with juvenile chronic arthritis and a diagnosis of severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, the first patient reported in the literature, to the best of the authors' knowledge.