[Carpal tunnel syndrome. A Tunisian series].
BACKGROUND
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent ductal syndrome. Few epidemiological studies in Tunisia exist.


OBJECTIVE
To describe clinical, biological and electromyographic data of Tunisian patients with CTS METHODS: A retrospective study including 80 patients with CTS, during the period going from 2009 to 2010.


RESULTS
A female predominance was observed with an average age of 52 years. Acroparesthesia was the main complaint, followed by night awakenings and muscular weakness. Physical examination showed a positive Tinel (91.2%) and Phalen (82.5%) tests, a decrease of tactile sensitivity (26.2%) and a thenar amyotrophy (10%). The Electromyography was abnormal in 85% cases. The most revealing lesions were demyelinating, sensitivo-motor predominance (66%) abnormalities. on Biology, hyperglycemia (12.5%), hyperuricemia (8.7%) and renal failure (7.5%) were the most observed. Medical treatment was drawn on analgesics and anti-inflammatory for 90% of our patients. Local steroid injections were indicated for 35% of patients, leading to a clinical improvement in 90% of cases. Surgery was made in only 13.8% patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Tunisian patients with CTS were female patients, housewifes with obesity or overweight. No other differences were observed in comparison with the literature.
EPS La Rabta, Tunis, Tunisie.
Dalila
D
Mrabet Bahri
Hela
H
Khiari
Ahmed
A
Gmati
Habiba
H
Mizouni
Nihel
N
Meddeb
Amel
A
Mrabet
Hela
H
Sahli
Slaheddine
S
Sellami
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014416:Tunisia