title: Carpal tunnel syndrome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and late onset cerebellar ataxia.
abstract: We report on clinical and electrophysiological findings and management in nine patients who developed carpal tunnel syndrome during the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and late onset cerebellar ataxia, two neurodegenerative diseases. The patients were treated with surgical decompression (five cases) and local steroid injections (four cases). Only one showed lasting relief of symptoms and significantly improved distal conduction in the median nerve at follow-up after 2 to 3 months. The symptoms and conduction data remained unchanged in three patients who could be followed for more than 1 year. We think that axonal neuropathy plays an important role in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome in these patients and accounts for the failure of the standard treatments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondelli
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalaffi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D008775:Methylprednisolone