Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, plastische Chirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Handchirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mikrochirurgie der Peripheren Nerven und Gefässe : Organ der Vereinigung der Deutschen Plastischen Chirurgen
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Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression syndrome of a peripheral nerve. It mostly affects patients older than 50 years. One cause for a carpal tunnel syndrome is transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid, which deposits in the carpal tunnel tissue. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be the first symptom of ATTR amyloidosis, which in the worst case leads to amyloid cardiomyopathy with the symptoms of heart failure with reduction in quality and time of life. For this article, all histological tissue samples of carpal tunnel tissue, collected from 2010 to 2018, were evaluated according to age and gender of each patient. Evaluation of the ATTR amyloid content in different regions of the carpal tunnel has enabled a recommendation for resection for optimal histological diagnosis. ⋯ Both men and women develop a carpal tunnel syndrome caused by ATTR amyloid. In particular, at the age of over 50 years, amyloid deposits should be considered in the context of the etiological clarification of the carpal tunnel syndrome. Early histological diagnosis is highly relevant to identify the risk of cardiac amyloidosis. For an early and correct diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis, histological examination of the flexor retinaculum is particularly necessary, and a sample excision should always be obtained and examined histologically.
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Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir · Sep 2018
["Pathway protection" - enhanced motoneuron regeneration by end-to-side coaptation of sensory axons].
Proximal nerve injuries and delayed nerve repair lead to reduced peripheral nerve regeneration. Poor functional results after nerve injury are clinically a very challenging problem. Experimental studies defined "chronic axotomy" of the neuron and the proximal part of a dissected nerve that are separated from their distal target, as well as "chronic denervation" of the distal nerve stump as an independent factors that reduce regenerative capacity of injured nerves. ⋯ In recent years, sensory "pathway protection" was investigated to avoid such motor deficit. Motoneuron regeneration of its axons can, in experimental animal models, be improved by end-to-side coaptation of sensory donor axons to either a denervated distal nerve stump or to a long autologous nerve graft, both of which undergo changes associated with chronic denervation. Sensory "pathway protection" has already been successfully clinically applied, however long-term functional analysis awaits.