Carpal tunnel syndrome following vascular shunts for hemodialysis
B. Holtmann and C. B. Anderson
Carpal tunnel syndrome developed in the hands of two patients five to six
months after Quinton-Scribner vascular shunts for hemodialysis were removed
from the forearm of the symptomatic upper extremity. Thickened flexor
tendon synovium within the carpal tunnel in al three cases suggests that
the cause is an increase in the volume of the contents within the rigid
confines of the carpal canal. Division of the transverse carpal ligament
and synovectomy resulted in complete relief of symptoms 4, 14, and 23
months after operation. Carpal tunnel syndrome should be considered an
additional new complication of vascular shunt procedures in patients
treated by hemodialysis for renal failure.
