Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy in upper limb. Although most causes are idiopathic, CTS may be associated with some systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to describe conservative procedures used in physical medicine and rehabilitation in the management of CTS.

Patients and methods

We carried out a descriptive retrospective study of cases of diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome treated in PMR department over a period of 1 year.

Results

Thirty-five cases of CTS were included in the study, 27 women and 8 men. The mean age was 46.68 ± 10.69 years. CTS was bilateral in 88% of cases. Acroparesthesias was the major symptom described in 56% of cases. An electro neuromyography (ENMG) was performed in 80% of patients revealing moderate impairment in 52% of cases. Rehabilitation techniques included transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and therapeutic ultrasound (US) as well as manual therapy for the median nerve and its surrounding structures were prescribed to 62% of the patients. Half of the patients received vitamin therapy and 35.5% pregabalin. Theses therapeutic measures were efficient in 67.5% of the cases and local corticosteroid infiltration was required in 42.5% of the cases. Surgery was required in 12% of cases for whom conservative treatment wasn’t efficient.

Conclusion

Conservative treatment including physiotherapy modalities and manual therapy occupies an important place in the management of CTS in PMR.