Carpal tunnel syndrome following vascular shunts for hemodialysis.

Carpal tunnel syndrome developed in the hands of two patients five to six months after Quinton-Scribner vascular shunts for hemodialysis were removed from the forearm of the symptomatic upper extremity. Thickened flexor tendon synovium within the carpal tunnel in al three cases suggests that the cause is an increase in the volume of the contents within the rigid confines of the carpal canal. Division of the transverse carpal ligament and synovectomy resulted in complete relief of symptoms 4, 14, and 23 months after operation. Carpal tunnel syndrome should be considered an additional new complication of vascular shunt procedures in patients treated by hemodialysis for renal failure.