Work practices and histopathological changes in the tenosynovium and flexor retinaculum in carpal tunnel syndrome in women

We studied 58 women of employable age with the carpal tunnel syndrome in or der to determine whether the histological appearances of the carpal tunnel, tenosynovium and flexor retinaculum are influenced by work practices. Age, body mass index and the duration of symptoms did not correlate with the ex tent of oedema or fibrosis within the tenosynovium, The incidence of abnorm ality on histological examination of the tenosynovium was the same in emplo yed and unemployed patients (p = 1.0), and was not influenced by the level of repetition (p = 0.89) or force (p = 0.29) of work. Myxoid degeneration w ithin the flexor retinaculum was, however, more common in women undertaking 'high-force' work. Apart from this finding, the results suggest that work practices do not affect tenosynovial thickening, fibrosis or oedema in pati ents with carpal tunnel syndrome.