Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Armstrong, Thomas J.
• Castelli, Walter A.
• Evans, F. Gaynor
• Diaz-Perez, Rodrigo

Titel

Some Histological Changes in Carpal Tunnel Contents and Their Biomechanical Implications

Ist Teil von

• Journal of occupational medicine, 1984-03, Vol.26 (3), p.197-201

Ort / Verlag

United States: American Occupational Medical Association

Erscheinungsjahr

1984

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathological influence of mechanical stresses that occur inside the carpal tunnel during exertions of the hand. Microscopic changes in fibrous tissue density', in synovial, subsynovial, and adjacent connective tissue density, and in median nerve epineurium density, arteriole wall muscle thickness, and arterial and venule endoproliferation were investigated at 5-mm increments along a 9-cm range of six postmortem wrist specimens. All of these changes increased from normal in the proximal portions of the wrist, -30 to -40 mm from the wrist crease, to maximal values 0- to 20-mm distal to the wrist crease. The changes then decreased toward norma in the distal sections, 20 to 40 mm. The location and character of these changes suggest that repeated exertions with a flexed or extended wrist are an important factor in their etiology. The consistency with which they are found in this and other studies suggests that extreme changes associate with highly repetitive work or additional stress factors are required to produce symptoms in most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.