Original Paper

An Assessment of Symptomatic Relief after Carpal Tunnel Release in Patients on Haemodialysis
Umar Daraz Khan

Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron Clin Pract 2008;110:c264-c267 (DOI: 10.1159/000167875)

  Key Words

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Haemodialysis
• Amyloidosis
• ₂-Microglobulin
• Hyperdynamic circulation

  Abstract

Patients receiving haemodialysis for chronic kidney disease are at risk of developing ₂-microglobulin-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There is a lack of evidence regarding outcome of this complication following surgical treatment. The current study specifically addressed the relief of symptoms after carpal tunnel release in this particular group of patients. Materials and Method: 26 carpal tunnel release operations were performed in 19 patients (12 males, 7 females) between 1992 and 1996. The mean age of the patients was 59 years (range 41-78) with a mean duration of haemodialysis of 12.6 years. Patients were dialysed the day before surgery with low-dose heparin. All procedures were performed using 1% Xylocaine with adrenaline 1:200,000 without tourniquet as day cases. Relief of weakness of the hand, tingling, pain at rest, pain on use, nocturnal paraesthesiae and scar pain were assessed. Results: All outcome measures showed marked improvement and 84% (16/19) of patients were satisfied with the outcome. One patient showed worsening of pain at rest and pain on use of hand. Conclusion: Release of carpal tunnel in patients on haemodialysis helps alleviation of symptoms due to median nerve compression and improves the function of hand and quality of life in the majority of patients. There can still be a small minority of patients who may not show any improvement and a few may rarely get worse.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

U.D. Khan
5 Manor Gardens
Walderslade, Kent ME5 9AB (UK)
Tel. +44 1732 846 383, Fax +44 1634 686 219
E-Mail Mrumarkhan@aol.com

  Article Information

Oral presentation at TRASH (Trent Region Audit for Surgery of the Hand), 26 June 1998, Sheffield, UK

Received: June 19, 2008
Accepted: August 28, 2008
Published online: October 31, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 20