The Most Important Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome and its relationship with the severity of the disease.

A total of 131 patients with clinical symptoms of CTS and 131 normal subjects were enrolled, of whom 121 were female both in the CTS cases and the controls. All cases were electro diagnostically confirmed and assigned to three severity groups. BMI, wrist ratio, shape index, digit index and hand length/height ratio were measured in all participants. Mean values for each item were compared between cases and controls and severity subgroups. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent CTS risk factors.

The mean values of BMI, wrist ratioand shape index were significantly higher in all CTS patients and females compared to controls, whereas in males only BMI and wrist ratio were higher. The patients in the mild severity subgroup had a significantly lower age and wrist ratio. BMI, wrist ratio and shape index were found to be independent risk factors of CTS development in all patients and females.

Our study showed BMI, wrist ratio and shape index as independent risk factors for CTS. These findings are important anatomically and clinically and these are the risk factors of anatomical malfunction of the wrist in CTS.