Original Paper

Obesity and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Is There a Causal Relationship?
Semiha Kurt^a, Bunyamin Kisacik^b, Yuksel Kaplan^a, Beytullah Yildirim^b, Ilker Etikan^c, Hatice Karaer^a

Departments of
^aNeurology,
^bInternal Medicine, and
^cBiostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Neurol 2008;59:253-257 (DOI: 10.1159/000115639)

  Key Words

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Obesity
• Median nerve conduction

  Abstract

Objectives: Obesity is defined as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In this study, the presence or absence of recovery in median nerve conduction velocities after weight loss in obese patients was assessed in order to determine whether excess weight or other factors influence the higher prevalence of CTS in obese patients. Methods: Patients with body mass indexes (BMIs) 30 were included in the study. CTS symptoms, age, gender, height, body weight, and concomitant diseases were evaluated. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were obtained on one upper extremity. All patients were included in dietetic programs. Three months later, NCS were repeated and compared with the first NCS. Results: BMIs were statistically significantly lower on the second visits 3 months later (p = 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was observed in the second NCS of electromyographically diagnosed cases with CTS (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We expected a recovery in median nerve conduction velocities in patients with CTS after weight loss. In the literature, even in untreated cases with CTS, spontaneous improvements in second NCS have been reported. This finding suggests that factors other than excess body weight may be influential in the higher prevalence of CTS in obese patients. A more detailed, genetic-factor-targeted investigation may prove more beneficial to clarify this issue.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Semiha Kurt, MD
Department of Neurology, Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Medicine
TR-60100 Tokat (Turkey)
Tel. +90 356 212 5746, ext. 1062, Fax +90 356 213 3179
E-Mail gsemihakurt@hotmail.com

  Article Information

Received: April 4, 2007
Accepted: September 18, 2007
Published online: February 8, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 31