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Persistent elevations in carpal tunnel pressure may aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome.
This study examined the effects of finger posture on carpal tunnel pressure during
wrist motion. Carpal tunnel hydrostatic pressure was measured using a saline-filled
catheter inserted into the nondominant wrists of 14 healthy individuals. Range of
motion tasks of wrist flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation were repeated with
metacarpophalageal (MCP) joint angles of 0° 45°, and 90° flexion. Pressure were significantly
greater with the fingers straight (MCP=0°) than when the MCP joints were flexed to
45° for all radioulnar deviation angles and from 10° of wrist flexion to all angles
of wrist extension tested. Pressures were also significantly higher with MCP joints
at 0° than at 90° for wrist extension angles from 10° to 40°. Pressures increased
to over 30 mm Hg (4.0 kPa) in some wrist extension and ulnar and radially deviated
postures. Finger and wrist postures should be considered when designing splints or
evaluating tasks for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 12,
1998
Received:
February 24,
1997
Footnotes
*Supported in part by Grant No. K01OH00121-01 from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control.
**No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 The American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc.
