The Evaluation of Shape of Hand and Wrist, Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity as Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2011;13(1):6-11.
Published online June 1, 2011.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to determine the role of the body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus (DM) and shape of hand and wrist in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their relationship to CTS severity in women. Methods: The 97 female patients with CTS (97 hands) diagnosed by electrodiagnostic study were recruited and the normal 81 patients (81 hands) were enrolled as control. Shape index, hand length/height ratio, digit index, wrist index and BMI were calculated and compared between the CTS group and the control group. Electrophysiological severity was graded by Stevens’ degree. Results: The wrist and shape indices were found to be higher in CTS patients than in the control subjects (p<0.05). The presence of DM and mean BMI were found to be a significant risk factor for CTS (p<0.05). The digit index and hand length/height ratio were not statistically significant in CTS patients compared to their controls and these factors were not found to be an independent risk factor for CTS (p>0.05). Shape index, wrist index, BMI and DM were significantly different in an analysis of variance examination to compare the means of the three subgroups (mild, moderate, severe) of severity of CTS. Conclusion: Higher BMI scores, wrist, shape and digit indices and presence of DM were independent risk factors for CTS and these factors showed significant relation with severity of CTS in females. We think that these are useful clinical value.

Key Words: Carpal tunnel syndrome, Body mass index, Diabetes mellitus, Shape of hand and wrist