Demographics of Common Compressive Neuropathies in the Upper Extremity

Abstract

Background:

The purpose of this study was to compare the demographic differences of the most common peripheral nerve compressions in the upper extremity—carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), ulnar nerve compression (UNC) at the elbow, combined CTS and UNC, radial tunnel syndrome (RTS), and posterior interosseous nerve syndrome (PINS)—as a means to better understand the etiologies of each.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients over the age of 18 years seen at our institution in the 2018 calendar year. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes were used to identify patients with diagnoses of upper extremity peripheral nerve compressions. Demographic details and relevant comorbidities were recorded for each patient and compared with controls, who were seen the same calendar year with no neuropathies. χ² analyses, independent-samples t tests, and multivariate logistic regressions were performed (P < .05).

Results:

A total of 7448 patients were identified. Those with CTS were mainly women, former smokers, and diabetic (all P < .001) and with a greater average body mass index (BMI) (P = .006) than controls. Patients with UNC were more often men and younger when compared with controls (both P < .001). A history of smoking, diabetes, and average BMI were similar between patients with UNC and controls (all P > .05). Those patients with combined CTS/UNC were mainly men, former smokers, and diabetic (all P < .001) when compared with controls. Patients with RTS/PINS were also mostly men (P = .007), diabetic (P = .042), and were more often current smokers (P < .001).

Conclusions:

The demographics of patients with various compressive neuropathies were not homogeneous, suggesting different etiologies.