Familial occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of familial carpal tunnel syndrome in patients admitted to the authors' institution for carpal tunnel release. Questionnaires completed by 120 patients: 92 women (77%) and 28 men (23%) at a mean age of 56 years at their baseline clinical examination were reviewed. Familial occurrence of the disease was noted in 21 patients (17%): 16 women and five men. Three family members were affected in three patients, two relatives in eight patients, and one relative in 10 patients, giving a total of 35 affected relatives. The patients' sisters (n = 16) were the most commonly involved, followed by mothers (n = 12), daughters (n = 2), brothers (n = 2), grandmothers (n = 2) and an aunt (n = 1). Bilateral manifestation of the disease was noted in 19 patients (90%) and in 31 (88%) of their affected relatives. The results suggest that carpal tunnel syndrome shows a moderate tendency to familial occurrence and, if so, it usually manifests bilaterally.