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Summary
Carpal tunnel syndrome in children presents uniquely, often with manual clumsiness rather than typical numbness. Surgical decompression significantly improved hand function in all five pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Neurology
- Genetics
Background:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is typically diagnosed in adults, with symptoms like numbness and dysesthesia in the median nerve distribution.
- Pediatric CTS is rare, and its presentation can differ significantly from adult cases, making early diagnosis challenging.
Observation:
- Five children (15 months to 6 years) underwent surgery for suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Four children from the same family presented with bilateral median nerve compression syndrome, bilateral tenosynovitis, and mild mucopolysaccharidosis (Scheie type).
- Key presenting symptoms in these children included manual clumsiness, atypical grasping patterns, and avoidance of hand activities, differing from classic adult CTS symptoms.
Findings:
- Surgical decompression of the median nerve was performed in all five children.
- All patients experienced normalization or significant improvement in hand function following surgical intervention.
- The underlying mucopolysaccharidosis in four patients may be associated with median nerve compression.
Implications:
- This study highlights the importance of considering CTS in pediatric patients presenting with non-specific hand dysfunction.
- Early surgical intervention for pediatric CTS can lead to favorable functional outcomes.
- The association between mucopolysaccharidosis and CTS warrants further investigation in pediatric populations.