Relationship Between Body Mass lndex and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

This study was planned to find out the relationship between body mass index and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). For this purpose, sensory and motor conduction studies and median-ulnar nerve peak sensory latency difference in palm-wrist segment was studied in 87 women, who were diagnosed as CTS. Though the electrophysiological studies were performed bilaterally, only the findings of the symptomatic hand were accepted for statistical analysis. Ages, height, weight of the patients were noted and body mass index was calculated (kg. m-2). The patients were divided; first, into two groups according to body mass index (either>30 or<30) and following this separation, the groups were divided again into two subgroups due to elect rophysiological findings (either being diagnosed as CTS or not). The study groups were as follows Group 1 (BMI>30 CTS (+), n=39), Group 2 (BMI>30 CTS (-), n=15), Group 3 (BMI<30 CTS (+), n=16), Group 4 (BMI<30 CTS (-), n=17). When Group 1 and 3 were compared according to the parameters of sensory and motor nerve conduction studies and median-ulnar peak latency difference in palm- wrist segment, no significant difference was determined. Compared with the same parameters; significan difference was found between group 2 and 4 although the findings were in the normal range. This study suggests that, obesity is a risk factor for CTS but it does not affects the severity of the disease. Detecting a significant difference in electrophysiological findings in the patients without CTS but BMI>30 when compared with patients BMI<30, requires further studies with the patients in this group for the progression to CTS.