Carpal tunnel syndrome: a frequent, invalidating, long-term complication of chronic hemodialysis.

Among 100 patients treated by chronic hemodialysis, 12 developed a carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). After surgery, improvement was dramatic with regression of pain and paresthesiae within a few hours. Recovery of motor and sensory deficits was longer (2-3 weeks). No relationship could be established between CTS and the type of nephropathy, severity of polyneuritis, Ca and PO4 metabolism, the presence of vascular access and efficacy of dialysis. The bilaterality of the lesions in 7 patients suggests general pathogenic mechanisms superimposed to the presence of the vascular access. While only 3 out of 65 patients treated for less than 4 years complained about CTS, 9 out of 35 treated for more than 4 years were symptomatic.