Natural evolution of carpal tunnel syndrome in untreated patients.

Clin Neurophysiol

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Nacional de Colombia., Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30, Bogotá, Colombia.

Published: June 2008

Objective: To describe the clinical and electrophysiological evolution of a group of patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who have not undergone any type of treatment (injections, braces or surgery).

Methods: Clinical and electrophysiological monitoring was done consecutively in a series of patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of CTS. The average time for follow-up was 2 years. The Historic and objective Classification scale (HiOb) was used to establish the severity of the disease in the test group, and neuro conductions were done to determine the electrophysiological classification.

Results: A total of 132 patients were monitored. In 31 patients (23.4% of the cases), the HiOb classification deteriorated, 28.8% remained stable, and 47.6% showed recovery. In the nerve conduction studies, 10 cases (7.6%) exhibited electrophysiological deterioration, 67.4% remained constant and 25% improved.

Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome had no change in their clinical and electrophysiological condition, while some improved spontaneously without treatment.

Significance: Given that most patients diagnosed with CTS remain stable or even improve over time, a conservative treatment may be all that is needed in a selection of patients with this disorder.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2008.02.012DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

carpal tunnel
12
tunnel syndrome
12
clinical electrophysiological
12
patients
8
patients diagnosed
8
electrophysiological
5
natural evolution
4
evolution carpal
4
syndrome untreated
4
untreated patients
4

Similar Publications

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment disease, and it is a subject of great interest and concern to medical professionals and the general public. Our study aims to analyze and compare the quality and accuracy of the information related to CTS provided by social media platforms (SMPs) and the new large language models (LLM).

Methods: On YouTube, the first 20 videos in English and the first 20 videos in Spanish when searching for "carpal tunnel syndrome" and "síndrome túnel carpo" were selected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Effectiveness of non-operative methods of treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a narrative review.

Wiad Lek

January 2025

DEPARTAMENT OF GENERAL NAD HAND SURGERY, STUDENT'S SCIENTIFIC CIRCLE, POMERANIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SZCZECIN, POLAND.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be treated with several methods, including surgical and non-surgical techniques. Non-surgical methods include wrist splinting, systemic pharmacotherapy, intracarpal injections of steroids hydrodissection, acupuncture, nerve and tendon mobilization, osteopathy, taping, topical application of ointments, laser, ultrasound and shock-wave therapies. These treatments are generally less effective than surgery, and provide only short-lived effect, but it may be quite sufficient for a certain category of patients, particularly those suffering from mild symptoms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Although an association between peripheral nerve entrapment issues and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been found, research has generally focused solely on nerve entrapment in the upper or lower extremity individually rather than on the consideration of nerve entrapment simultaneously in the upper and lower extremities. In addition, most of these studies have used small sample sizes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) concurrently in patients with RA using a relatively large sample size.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Ultrasonography is increasingly used to diagnose the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Most frequently, the enlargement of the nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at the tunnel inlet serves to confirm the diagnosis. Recent research has shown that the nerve diameter is decreased within the tunnel, when measured at the level of pisiforme or capitatum.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Median nerve entrapment neuropathy: a review on the pronator syndrome.

JSES Rev Rep Tech

February 2025

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical group (HMG), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Pronator syndrome is a compression neuropathy of the median nerve within the anatomical structures of the elbow and forearm. It presents with neuropathic pain, numbness, and weakness of the forearm and hand, which are often exacerbated by repetitive pronation-supination movements. Patient presentation may mimic the signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!