Secondary carpal tunnel syndrome caused by space-occupying lesion-lipoma

We report a case of carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of an extraosseous chondroma in a 47-year-old gentleman. This case demonstrates the importance of clinical examination and occasional radiographs in this not uncommon condition. We also highlight that this well known entrapment syndrome is not only caused by the common causes that we all know, but also any space-occupying lesion in the carpal tunnel compressing the median nerve.

Download Full-text

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by space‐occupying lesion: case report

ANZ Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1111/ans.15306 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Bruno E. Crepaldi ◽

Owen Ou Yang ◽

Anthony Berger

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Space Occupying Lesion

Download Full-text

Unilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by an Occult Ganglion in the Carpal Tunnel: A Report of Two Cases

Case Reports in Orthopedics ◽

10.1155/2014/589021 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Merter Yalcinkaya ◽

Yunus Emre Akman ◽

A. Erdem Bagatur

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Median Nerve ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Magnetic Resonance Images ◽

Imaging Studies ◽

Contralateral Hand ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Space Occupying Lesion

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) usually presents bilaterally and a secondary nature should be suspected in patients with unilateral symptoms, especially those with a long-standing history, and when the symptomatic hand shows severe neurophysiologic impairment, while the contralateral hand is neurophysiologically intact. Space-occupying lesions are known to cause CTS and the incidence of space-occupying lesions in unilateral CTS is higher than that of bilateral CTS. It is easy to detect a mass when it is palpable; however, occult lesions are usually overlooked. Whenever a patient presents with unilateral symptoms and unilateral neurophysiologic impairment, the possibility of a space-occupying lesion compressing the median nerve should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis. This study presents two cases with an occult ganglion in the carpal tunnel compressing the median nerve and causing unilateral symptoms of CTS. We stress on the importance of imaging studies in patients with unilateral symptoms that are usually not used in CTS. The reported patients were evaluated and magnetic resonance images revealed an intratunnel space-occupying lesion.

Download Full-text

Unilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Space-Occupying Lesions

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1016/0266-7681(93)90236-9 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 748-749 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

K. NAKAMICHI ◽

S. TACHIBANA

Keyword(s):

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Physical Examination ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Nerve Conduction ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Careful Examination ◽

Plain Radiographs ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Space Occupying Lesion

To assess the association between unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and space-occupying lesions, 128 patients have been reviewed. They were divided into bilateral, subclinical (unilateral signs and symptoms, and bilateral slowing in the median nerve conduction) and unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Space-occupying lesions were investigated on the basis of physical examination and wrist imaging using plain radiographs and ultrasonograms. Of 20 patients with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, space-occupying lesions were found in seven (occult ganglion in five and occult calcified mass in two). In contrast, none of 89 patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and 19 with subclinical carpal tunnel syndrome had space-occupying lesions. We conclude that careful examination and wrist imaging on suspicion of local pathology, especially a space-occupying lesion, are needed when the condition is unilateral and the aetiology is not clear from the history and on physical examination.

Download Full-text

Clinical Update: Assessing Maximum Medical Improvement in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2003.julaug02 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 4-5

Author(s):

Christopher R. Brigham ◽

James B. Talmage

Keyword(s):

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Proper Time ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Hand Function ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Early Results ◽

Medical Evaluation ◽

Nerve Recovery ◽

Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract Permanent impairment cannot be assessed until the patient is at maximum medical improvement (MMI), but the proper time to test following carpal tunnel release often is not clear. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) states: “Factors affecting nerve recovery in compression lesions include nerve fiber pathology, level of injury, duration of injury, and status of end organs,” but age is not prognostic. The AMA Guides clarifies: “High axonotmesis lesions may take 1 to 2 years for maximum recovery, whereas even lesions at the wrist may take 6 to 9 months for maximal recovery of nerve function.” The authors review 3 studies that followed patients’ long-term recovery of hand function after open carpal tunnel release surgery and found that estimates of MMI ranged from 25 weeks to 24 months (for “significant improvement”) to 18 to 24 months. The authors suggest that if the early results of surgery suggest a patient's improvement in the activities of daily living (ADL) and an examination shows few or no symptoms, the result can be assessed early. If major symptoms and ADL problems persist, the examiner should wait at least 6 to 12 months, until symptoms appear to stop improving. A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome who declines a release can be rated for impairment, and, as appropriate, the physician may wish to make a written note of this in the medical evaluation report.

Download Full-text

Clinical Update: Understanding Causation: An Example Using Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2007.novdec02 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 5-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Mark Melhorn

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Carpal Tunnel ◽

Legal Responsibility ◽

Medical Evidence ◽

Anatomic Structure ◽

Legal Professionals ◽

Compensation Systems ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Four Levels

Abstract Medical evidence is drawn from observation, is multifactorial, and relies on the laws of probability rather than a single cause, but, in law, finding causation between a wrongful act and harm is essential to the attribution of legal responsibility. These different perspectives often result in dissatisfaction for litigants, uncertainty for judges, and friction between health care and legal professionals. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) provides an example: Popular notions suggest that CTS results from occupational arm or hand use, but medical factors range from congenital or acquired anatomic structure, age, sex, and body mass index, and perhaps also involving hormonal disorders, diabetes, pregnancy, and others. The law separately considers two separate components of causation: cause in fact (a cause-and-effect relationship exists) and proximate or legal cause (two events are so closely related that liability can be attached to the first event). Workers’ compensation systems are a genuine, no-fault form of insurance, and evaluators should be aware of the relevant thresholds and legal definitions for the jurisdiction in which they provide an opinion. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment contains a large number of specific references and outlines the methodology to evaluate CTS, including both occupational and nonoccupational risk factors and assigning one of four levels of evidence that supports the conclusion.

Download Full-text