Prevalence of cold sensitivity in upper extremity nerve compression syndromes

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wendt ◽  
Christine B. Novak ◽  
Dimitri J. Anastakis

This prospective observational study assessed the prevalence of cold sensitivity in patients with nerve compression using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire. One hundred patients (72 women, 28 men; mean age 59 years) with carpal tunnel syndrome ( n = 95) or cubital tunnel syndrome ( n = 5) were studied. Fifty-two patients reported symptoms of cold sensitivity with a mean CISS score of 50. Overall, significantly more women (58% vs. 36%) reported cold sensitivity with significantly worse CISS scores than men. Level of evidence: IV

Author(s):  
Gerrit Freund ◽  
Manuel Dafotakis ◽  
Jörg Bahm ◽  
Justus P. Beier

Abstract Background Nerve compression syndromes are referred to as chronic irritation or pressure palsies of peripheral nerves in areas of preformed anatomical constriction. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve compression syndrome, followed by cubital tunnel syndrome. In addition, less frequent nerve compression syndromes of the upper extremities that affect the median, ulnar or radial nerves have been described. This review provides an overview of current treatment options for nerve compression syndromes of the upper extremities. Study Design Systematic overview. Methods Based on established national (AWMF) and international guidelines as well as the Cochrane Library, we performed a systematic literature search on PubMed (NLM), focusing on randomised controlled trials. Results Over the research period (2012 – 2020), there were 43 randomised trials that investigated surgical carpal tunnel release methods, 68 that compared different conservative therapies and 12 that compared surgical versus conservative treatments. Furthermore, eight studies analysed surgical techniques and four analysed conservative techniques for cubital tunnel syndrome. No randomised trials were conducted on the less common peripheral nerve compression syndromes, but case reports and observational studies were conducted. Conclusion For carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, there are evidence-based diagnostic methods as well as therapeutic recommendations based on randomised and controlled trials. When diagnosis is made after clinical examination and supported by radiological and electrophysiological evaluation, surgical treatment is considered superior to conservative treatment. In particular, excellent long-term results can be achieved by surgery for carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes. More controlled studies are needed to establish evidence-based therapeutic recommendations for the less common nerve compression syndromes, which are somewhat controversially and inconsistently defined.


2003 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. EREL ◽  
A. DILLEY ◽  
J. GREENING ◽  
V. MORRIS ◽  
B. COHEN ◽  
...  

In nerve compression syndromes restricted nerve sliding may lead to increased strain, possibly contributing to symptoms. Ultrasound was used to examine longitudinal median nerve sliding in 17 carpal tunnel syndrome patients and 19 controls during metacarpophalangeal joint movement. Longitudinal movement in the forearm averaged 2.62 mm in controls and was not significantly reduced in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients (mean=2.20 mm). In contrast, CTS patients had a 40% reduction in transverse nerve movement at the wrist on the most, compared to least, affected side and nerve areas were enlarged by 34%. Normal longitudinal sliding in the patients indicates that nerve strain is not increased and will not contribute to symptoms.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175319342199622
Author(s):  
Albin Stjernbrandt ◽  
Ingrid Liljelind ◽  
Tohr Nilsson ◽  
Jens Wahlström

Cold sensitivity, a common and disabling sequela of hand injury, can be assessed using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire, rating symptoms on a scale from 4 to 100. The primary objective of this study was to define a clinical cut-off for abnormal cold sensitivity based on the CISS score in a healthy working-age population. The secondary objective was to investigate how age, gender and previous injuries and diseases influence CISS scoring. In this study, 1239 out of 1582 selected healthy subjects of working age living in northern Sweden completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 78%. The 95th percentile for the CISS score was 49.5 for men and 53.0 for women. The effects of age, gender and previous injuries and diseases were minor and not considered clinically relevant. The results support that a CISS score above 50 should be considered as abnormal cold sensitivity. Level of evidence: III


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özge B. Cesim ◽  
Çiğdem Öksüz

The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between cold intolerance and sensory function after repair of nerve transection or decompression of peripheral neuropathy in the upper extremity. We included patients with abnormal cold sensitivity who had a score of 30 or more in the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity Questionnaire. There were 30 individuals after surgery to repair nerve transection and 30 with compression neuropathy, aged between 18–65 years. We used the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity Questionnaire to evaluate cold intolerance and the Rosen Score to evaluate sensory function. There was a significant negative correlation between cold intolerance and sensory function in both peripheral nerve transections and compression neuropathies. We conclude that greater cold intolerance is associated with worse sensory function in peripheral nerve injuries. Interventions for sensory function in cold intolerance treatment may reduce the severity of cold intolerance. Level of evidence: III


Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110289
Author(s):  
Amy Phan ◽  
Warren Hammert

Background: Assessment of outcomes for cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) surgeries has been difficult due to heterogeneity in outcome reporting. Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes for 2 cohorts treated surgically for isolated CuTS and for combined CuTS and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Methods: There were 29 patients in the isolated CuTS cohort and 30 patients in the combined CuTS and CTS cohort. PROMIS Physical Function (PF), Pain Interference (PI), Depression, and Upper Extremity (UE) were completed preoperatively and 1-week, 6-weeks, and 3-months postoperatively. Responsiveness was evaluated by standardized response means (SRM). Results: Significant improvements from the 1-week to 6-week postoperative period are shown in the isolated CuTS cohort for PROMIS PF ( P = .002), PI ( P = .0002), and UE ( P = .02), but scores plateau after 6-weeks postoperatively. A similar pattern for the same time points was seen for the combined CuTS and CTS group for PROMIS PF ( P = .001), PI ( P = .02), and UE ( P = .04), with a plateau of scores beyond 6 weeks postoperatively. PROMIS UE was more responsive (SRM range: 0.11-1.03) than the PF (SRM range: 0.02-0.52) and PI (SRM range: 0.11-0.40), which were both mildly responsive for both cohorts. Conclusions: PROMIS lacks the sensitivity to show improvement beyond 6-weeks postoperatively for both isolated CuTS and combined CuTS and CTS. Patients with combined nerve compressions follow similar trajectories in the postoperative period as those with isolated CuTS. Level of Evidence: Level IV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-264
Author(s):  
Nick A. Johnson ◽  
Oliver Darwin ◽  
Dimitrious Chasiouras ◽  
Anna Selby ◽  
Chris Bainbridge

The relationship between surgery for cubital tunnel and carpal tunnel syndrome was examined in this retrospective study. Between 1997 and 2018, data from consecutive patients who underwent carpal tunnel release (8352 patients), cubital tunnel release (1681 patients) or both procedures (692 patients) were analysed. The relative risk of undergoing cubital tunnel release in the population who had carpal tunnel release compared with those with no carpal tunnel release was 15.3 (male 20.3; female 12.5). The relative risk of undergoing carpal tunnel release in the population who had cubital tunnel release compared with those who did not undergo carpal tunnel release was 11.5 (male 16.5; female 9.1). Our study showed that men and women who undergo carpal tunnel release are over 20 times and 10 times more likely to have cubital tunnel release than those who did not undergo carpal tunnel release, respectively. These findings suggest that the two conditions may share a similar aetiology. Level of evidence: IV


Hand Surgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (01) ◽  
pp. 137-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Abe ◽  
Masahiko Saito

Compression neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow is well-recognised as cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). Many causes of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow have been identified. A previously unreported finding of ulnar nerve compression in the cubital tunnel caused by a thrombosed proximal ulnar recurrent artery vena comitans is described.


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