title: An analysis of the flexor synovium in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: report of 625 cases.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the presence or absence of tenosynovitis in persons with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Eight hundred thirty-five consecutive operations for carpal tunnel syndrome were retrospectively reviewed, and 625 cases of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were identified. Of these 96% (601) had a synovial tissue histologic diagnosis of benign fibrous tissue without inflammation, 4% (23) showed chronic inflammation, and 0.2% (1) revealed evidence of acute inflammation. We believe that tenosynovitis is not a part of the pathophysiologic process in chronic idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Further histologic analysis of the flexor synovium for pathologic changes other than inflammation is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sybert
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Albarracin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology