Foreign Body in the Median Nerve: a Complication of Acupuncture

1990 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-112
Author(s):  
S. R. SOUTHWORTH ◽  
R. H. HARTWIG

Fracture of an acupuncture needle resulted in a foreign body within the carpal tunnel of a patient who then developed median neuropathy. The needle fragment was recovered from within the median nerve during carpal tunnel release, with rapid post-operative relief of symptoms. Development of peripheral neuropathy is a potential complication of acupuncture.

2021 ◽  
pp. 175319342110017
Author(s):  
Saskia F. de Roo ◽  
Philippe N. Sprangers ◽  
Erik T. Walbeehm ◽  
Brigitte van der Heijden

We performed a systematic review on the success of different surgical techniques for the management of recurrent and persistent carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and were grouped by the type of revision carpal tunnel release, which were simple open release, open release with flap coverage or open release with implant coverage. Meta-analysis showed no difference, and pooled success proportions were 0.89, 0.89 and 0.85 for simple open carpal tunnel release, additional flap coverage and implant groups, respectively. No added value for coverage of the nerve was seen. Our review indicates that simple carpal tunnel release without additional coverage of the median nerve seems preferable as it is less invasive and without additional donor site morbidity. We found that the included studies were of low quality with moderate risk of bias and did not differentiate between persistent and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 230949902199340
Author(s):  
Kotaro Sato ◽  
Kenya Murakami ◽  
Yoshikuni Mimata ◽  
Gaku Takahashi ◽  
Minoru Doita

Purpose: Supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release (SRECTR) is a technique in which an endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum through a subcutaneous tunnel. The benefits of this method include a clear view for the surgeon and absence of median nerve compression. Surgeons can operate with a familiar view of the flexor retinaculum and median nerve downward, similar to open surgery. This study aimed to investigate the learning curve for SRECTR, an alternate method for carpal tunnel release, and evaluate its complications and the functional outcomes using a disposable commercial kit. Methods: We examined the open conversion rates and complications associated with SRECTR in 200 consecutive patients performed by two surgeons. We compared the operative time operated by a single surgeon. We evaluated outcomes in 191 patients according to Kelly’s grading system. Patients’ mean follow-up period was 12.7 months. Results: Nine patients required conversion to open surgery. There were no injuries to the nerves and tendons and no hematoma or incomplete dissection of the flexor retinaculum. The operative times varied between 11 and 34 minutes. We obtained the following results based on Kelly’s grading of outcomes: excellent in 116, good in 59, fair in 13, and poor in 3 patients. Conclusions: We found no patients with neurapraxia, major nerve injury, flexor tendon injury, superficial palmar arch injury, and hematoma. Although there was a learning curve associated with SRECTR, we performed 200 consecutive cases without neurovascular complications. This method may be a safe alternative to minimally invasive carpal tunnel surgery.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Chimenti ◽  
Allison W. McIntyre ◽  
Sean M. Childs ◽  
Warren C. Hammert ◽  
John C. Elfar

Background: Resolution of symptoms including pain, numbness, and tingling outside of the median nerve distribution has been shown to occur following carpal tunnel release. We hypothesized that a similar effect would be found after combined release of the ulnar nerve at the elbow with simultaneous release of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. Methods: 20 patients with combined cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome were prospectively enrolled. The upper extremity was divided into six zones and the location of pain, numbness, tingling, or strange sensations was recorded pre-operatively. Two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, and validated questionnaires were collected pre-operatively and at six-week follow-up. Results: Probability of resolution was greater in the median nerve distribution than the ulnar nerve for numbness (71% vs. 43%), tingling (86% vs. 75%). Seventy percent of the cohort reported at least one extra-anatomic symptom pre-operatively, and greater than 80% of these resolved at early follow-up. There was a decrease in pain as measured by validated questionnaires. Conclusion: This study documents resolution of symptoms in both extra-ulnar and extra-median distributions after combined cubital and carpal tunnel release. Pre-operative patient counseling may therefore include the likelihood of symptomatic improvement in a non-expected nerve distribution after this procedure, assuming no other concomitant pathology which may cause persistent symptoms. Future studies could be directed at correlating pre-operative disease severity with probability of symptom resolution using a larger population.


Hand ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Gideon Nkrumah ◽  
Alan R. Blackburn ◽  
Robert J. Goitz ◽  
John R. Fowler

Background: Increasing severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), as graded by nerve conduction studies (NCS), has been demonstrated to predict the speed and completeness of recovery after carpal tunnel release (CTR). The purpose of this study is to compare the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in patients with severe and nonsevere CTS as defined by NCS. Methods: Ultrasound CSA measurements were taken at the carpal tunnel inlet at the level of the pisiform bone by a hand fellowship–trained orthopedic surgeon. Severe CTS on NCS was defined as no response for the distal motor latency (DML) and/or distal sensory latency (DSL). Results: A total of 274 wrists were enrolled in the study. The median age was 51 years (range: 18-90 years), and 72.6% of wrists were from female patients. CSA of median nerve and age were comparatively the best predictors of severity using a linear regression model and receiver operator curves. Using cutoff of 12 mm2 for severe CTS, the sensitivity and specificity are 37.5% and 81.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Ultrasound can be used to grade severity in younger patients (<65 years) with a CTS-6 score of >12.


2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (02) ◽  
pp. 210-212
Author(s):  
S. R. Sharma ◽  
Nalini Sharma ◽  
M. E. Yeolekar

ABSTRACTWe present a case of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) due to compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel, caused by cysticercosis. Nerve conduction studies revealed severe CTS. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested an inflammatory mass compressing the median nerve in carpal tunnel. The histological diagnosis was consistent with cysticercosis. The case resolved with conservative treatment. Such solitary presentation of entrapment median neuropathy as CTS caused by cysticercosis is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the only case of its kind reported in literature till date.


Hand ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 155894472096496
Author(s):  
Cory Demino ◽  
John R. Fowler

Background Choosing cutoff values for nerve conduction studies (NCS) and ultrasound cross-sectional area (CSA) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is critical in determining the diagnostic accuracy of the tests. The goals of this study were to: (1) determine the sensitivity and specificity of various electrodiagnostic and ultrasound threshold values for diagnosis of CTS; and (2) determine the number of hands that underwent NCS and ultrasound that were within 10% of threshold values. Methods A total of 309 hands of 235 patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of median neuropathy was made based on NCS by the independent physician performing the NCS. Criteria analyzed included distal motor latency of 4.4+ ms, distal sensory latency of 3.6+ ms, difference in median-ulnar mixed nerve palmar latency of 0.4+ ms, and CSA of the median nerve of 10+ mm2. Results Median neuropathy was diagnosed in 235 hands, whereas 74 hands were found not to have median neuropathy. Overall, 141 hands (46%) had at least 1 of the 3 electrodiagnostic variables within 10% of the diagnostic cutoff values, and 137 hands (44%) had a median nerve CSA within 10% of 10 mm2. By performing ultrasound in addition to NCS for each patient, an additional 65 hands (21%) had a definitive diagnosis on at least 1 of the 2 diagnostic modalities. Conclusions Ultrasound and NCS yielded a similar number of patients within 10% of their diagnostic threshold values. When used together, the number of patients with a nonborderline diagnosis on at least 1 diagnostic modality was increased substantially.


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