Influencia del espesor del ligamento transverso del carpo en el síndrome del túnel carpiano / Influence of the thickness of the transverse carpal ligament in carpal tunnel syndrome

Objetivo. Determinar si el espesor del ligamento transverso del carpo medido en el corte axial T2 en resonancia magnética influye realmente en la aparición del síndrome del túnel carpiano. Material y método. Se realizó resonancia magnética de la región de la muñeca a 94 pacientes entre enero del 2015 y junio del 2016, de los cuales 28 presentaban síndrome del túnel carpiano, 37 con molestias en diferentes regiones del carpo, sin síntomas de túnel carpiano y 29 sujetos sanos. Dos observadores realizaron 3 medidas en 3 niveles diferentes y en los 3 grupos de pacientes. Resultados. No se evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las medidas del espesor del ligamento transverso del carpo entre el grupo de síndrome del túnel carpiano y el grupo sin afectación del túnel, pero sí hubo diferencias estadísticas entre el grupo control y el grupo afecto de síndrome del túnel carpiano y entre grupo control y grupo sin afectación del túnel carpiano. En estos dos grupos, el espesor del ligamento transverso fue mayor al grupo control. Discusión. En este estudio se evidencia un aumento del ligamento transverso en sujetos con afectación de síndrome del túnel carpiano como demuestran numerosos estudios de la literatura, pero no existe un factor causal determinado sino un conjunto de hechos que hacen posible la aparición de dicho síndrome en un determinado grupo de pacientes. Conclusión. El síndrome del túnel carpiano es multifactorial, sin intervenir directamente el espesor del ligamento trasverso en la aparición de los síntomas (AU)

Objective. To determine if the thickness of the transverse carpal ligament measured by T2 axial magnetic resonance imaging actually influences the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. Material and method. 94 patients between January 2015 and June 2016, of whom 28 had carpal tunnel syndrome, underwent magnetic resonance imaging, 37 with discomfort in different carpus regions without symptoms of carpal tunnel and 29 healthy subjects. Two observers performed 3 measurements in 3 different levels, and in the 3 groups of patients. Results. No statistically significant differences in transverse carpal ligament thickness measurements between the carpal tunnel syndrome group and the group without carpal tunnel involvement became apparent, but statistical differences between the control group and the carpal tunnel syndrome group, and between the control group and the group without involvement of the carpal tunnel were observed. In both these groups, the thickness of the transverse ligament was higher than in the control group. Discussion. An increase in the thickness of the transverse ligament in was found in this study in subjects with involvement of carpal tunnel syndrome as evidenced by numerous studies in the literature. There is no certain causative factor, but rather a set of facts that make onset of the syndrome possible in a specific group of patients. Conclusion. Carpal tunnel syndrome is multifactorial. The thickness of the transverse ligament does not directly affect the onset of symptoms (AU)

Influence of the thickness of the transverse carpal ligament in carpal tunnel syndrome. / Influencia del espesor del ligamento transverso del carpo en el síndrome del túnel carpiano.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the thickness of the transverse carpal ligament measured by T2 axial magnetic resonance imaging actually influences the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 94 patients between January 2015 and June 2016, of whom 28 had carpal tunnel syndrome, underwent magnetic resonance imaging, 37 with discomfort in different carpus regions without symptoms of carpal tunnel and 29 healthy subjects. Two observers performed 3 measurements in 3 different levels, and in the 3 groups of patients. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in transverse carpal ligament thickness measurements between the carpal tunnel syndrome group and the group without carpal tunnel involvement became apparent, but statistical differences between the control group and the carpal tunnel syndrome group, and between the control group and the group without involvement of the carpal tunnel were observed. In both these groups, the thickness of the transverse ligament was higher than in the control group. DISCUSSION: An increase in the thickness of the transverse ligament in was found in this study in subjects with involvement of carpal tunnel syndrome as evidenced by numerous studies in the literature. There is no certain causative factor, but rather a set of facts that make onset of the syndrome possible in a specific group of patients. CONCLUSION: Carpal tunnel syndrome is multifactorial. The thickness of the transverse ligament does not directly affect the onset of symptoms.