title: Carpal tunnel area as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: Carpal tunnel area was investigated as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). It was hypothesized that if canal area is a risk factor for the syndrome, individuals who develop the syndrome should have smaller carpal canal areas than those who remain free of the syndrome. Sixty-one subjects, approximately equally divided by sex, age group, and diagnosis, were examined. A measurement of cross-sectional areas of the carpal canal by computerized axial tomography indicated that individuals diagnosed as carpal tunnel patients had significantly larger carpal canal areas than controls. The results indicate that a small carpal canal area does not appear to be a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Winn
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Habes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology