Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to determine the material properties of the normal carpal
tunnel subsynovial connective tissue in response to shear stress.
Methods
The shear modulus and maximum shear strength were measured with a custom-made micro-tester
in 10 specimens of subsynovial connective tissue from 10 wrists in eight patients
with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome and in 10 specimens from five fresh frozen
cadavers without a history of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Findings
The mean shear modulus was 22.8 (SD 15.4) kPa for the patient group and 2.7 (SD 1.8) kPa for the control group. The mean maximum shear strength was 54.6 (SD 20.3) kPa for the patient group and 23.3 (SD 10.7) kPa for the control group. The values for the patient group were significantly higher
than the control group (P < 0.05).
Interpretation
The material properties of subsynovial connective tissue are altered in patients with
idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. The impact, if any, of these altered properties
on carpal tunnel syndrome remains to be elucidated.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 06, 2007
Accepted:
July 24,
2007
Received:
March 15,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
