[Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with familial accumulation]

V L Moser1, H Krimmer, U Lanz

  • 1Universitätsklinik für Chirurgie, Abteilung für Wiederherstellende und Plastische Chirurgie, AKH Wien. veith.moser@meduniwien.ac.at

Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, Plastische Chirurgie : Organ Der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Handchirurgie : Organ Der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Mikrochirurgie Der Peripheren Nerven Und Gefasse : Organ Der V
|July 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A six-year-old girl experienced bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with a family history. Surgical decompression successfully resolved her symptoms after conservative treatments failed.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition, but familial aggregation is less frequently reported.
  • Understanding genetic predispositions for CTS is crucial for early diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • A pediatric case of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was observed in a six-year-old girl.
  • The patient's family history revealed multiple members, including parents and a grandmother, with surgically treated CTS.

Findings:

  • Conservative management, including plaster casting, was unsuccessful in alleviating the girl's CTS symptoms.
  • A two-stage open carpal tunnel release procedure was performed, leading to significant symptom improvement.
  • Complete resolution of CTS symptoms was achieved six months post-surgery.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for familial inheritance of carpal tunnel syndrome, even in pediatric populations.
  • Early surgical intervention may be effective for pediatric CTS when conservative measures fail.
  • Further research into the genetic basis of CTS could inform familial screening and preventative strategies.

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