Association between stenosing tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome: retrospective case series study

Mantas Fomkinas1, Aurimas Dobilinskas1, Ernest Zacharevskij1, Kęstutis Braziulis1, Rytis Rimdeika1

1Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Background and aim. To evaluate the relationship of stenosing tenosynovitis (ST) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), including development of these conditions after surgery for the other.

Materials and methods. A case series analysis reviewed subjects with ST and CTS treated surgically. All patients included were over the age of 18 and had annulotomy or retinaculotomy performed. Patients with recurrent disease were excluded. Data collection and analysis accounted for the type of procedure performed, time period of these conditions development. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software. Results with values of p < 0,05 were considered statistically significant.

Results. There was a total of 1858 patients (mean age 60.05, SD 13.57) – 400 men (21.5%) and 1458 women (78.5%). 1406 patients were diagnosed with CTS, 345 – ST and 107 – both pathologies. It was found that the rate of development of CTS after annulotomy (4.1%) was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the rate of development of ST after retinaculotomy (1.6%) (p > 0.05). The CTS after annulotomy most commonly occurs after more than 12 months (p = 0.003), while ST after retinaculotomy – after 6 – 12 months (p > 0.05).

Conclusion. ST and CTS are often diagnosed concomitantly, although tend to develop after the surgical treatment for each other. The rate of development of CTS after annulotomy is significantly higher than the rate of development of ST after retinaculotomy. The CTS after annulotomy most commonly occurs after more than 12 months, while ST after retinaculotomy – after 6 – 12 months.

Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, stenosing tenosynovitis, trigger digit, carpal tunnel release, retinaculotomy, annulotomy.

Full article

https://doi.org/10.53453/ms.2023.3.2