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Carpal tunnel syndrome in breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema
Author(s) -
Stubblefield Michael D.,
Kim Arum,
Riedel Elyn R.,
Ibanez Katarzyna
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24506
Subject(s) - lymphedema , medicine , carpal tunnel syndrome , wrist , breast cancer , upper limb , physical therapy , common terminology criteria for adverse events , cancer , surgery
: Lymphedema has long been considered a risk factor for median nerve compression at the wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This association is based on limited and poor quality data. We analyzed the association between lymphedema and CTS. Methods : Breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS were assessed retrospectively. The severity of lymphedema was graded using the National Institutes of Health Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03. The severity of CTS was graded in accordance with accepted criteria. Results : Nineteen patients (38 sides) met the criteria for analysis. There was no association between presence of lymphedema and CTS ( P = 0.66) or between lymphedema severity and CTS severity ( P = 0.79). There were no cases of infection or worsening lymphedema as a result of needle EMG. Conclusions : These findings do not support lymphedema as an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of CTS. Muscle Nerve 51 : 864–869, 2015