[The iatrogenic carpal tunnel syndrome--case report]

An inadequate indication for a carpal tunnel revision procedure may be followed by disastrous sequelae for the patient. So it may be justified to talk of iatrogenic CTS. A patient suffering from bilateral CTS is presented who had been operated on six times in all. The following techniques had been used by an orthopedic surgeon, a neurologist, a neurosurgeon and a hand surgeon: microsurgical neurolysis, epineurectomy, neuroma resection, tenosynovectomy and finally a hypothenar fat flap. Initial cause for this fatal series was scar tenderness following lesion of the muscular and palmar branches of the median nerve in the first or second operation. Since sensory nerve conduction was normal after decompression had been performed, there would have been no indication for further surgery of the median nerve. Resection of the neuromas of the two injured branches was not followed by any relief for the patient nor did wrapping the nerve in a fat flap help. Such courses may lead to high costs in health care and occupational disability. They can be avoided by competent neurological and electrophysiological examination, correct interpretation of findings as well as critical consideration of the indication for revision procedures.