title: Screening for thyroid dysfunction and diabetes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current literature demonstrates that patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism and diabetes. The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) advises screening CTS patients for thyroid and glucose dysfunction before surgery. This study aimed to analyze the current departmental practice for patients listed for carpal tunnel decompression (CTD) with respect to preoperative assessment of diabetic and thyroid status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all patients who underwent surgery for CTS under one team over a 3 year period (2009-2011) in a UK teaching hospital was performed. Patients' medical records and pathology results were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 103 procedures were performed in 100 patients. Preoperative thyroid function was checked in 63/100 patients with an abnormal result in 3/63 patients. Two of these patients were subsequently diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Similarly blood glucose was checked in 67/100 patients. This resulted in the new diagnosis of three patients with diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are consistent with the view that CTS is associated with thyroid dysfunction and diabetes and screening helps in diagnosing new cases of these conditions in this select group. The cost of diagnosing new cases of hypothyroidism and diabetes can be considered as money well spent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: may.vash@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vashishtha
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadakia
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Jager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Carpal tunnel; Decompression; Diabetes; Glucose; Hypothyroidism; Median nerve