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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 999-1003 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Clinical Biomechanics |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2007 |
Keywords
- Biomechanics
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shear stress
- Subsynovial connective tissue
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine