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Carpal tunnel syndrome - Management
Basis for recommendation
- The basis of these recommendations is expert advice in review articles [Viera, 2003; Barnardo, 2004; Bland, 2007] and the guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology [Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, 1993].
- There is evidence that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis is higher in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. A systematic review found insufficient evidence to recommend routine laboratory screening for concurrent disease in people with a new diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome [van Dijk et al, 2003].
- There is believed to be a strong genetic disposition towards carpal tunnel syndrome. A study of monozygotic (n = 867) and dizygotic (n = 970) female twin pairs found that up to half the liability to develop carpal tunnel syndrome in women is genetically determined and this appeared to be the strongest risk factor [Hakim et al, 2002].
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