The association also runs in the other direction, with migraine patients having higher odds of carpal tunnel syndrome, according to research by Dr. Huay-Zong Law and colleagues of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The findings add a new piece of evidence in the ongoing debate over the use of nerve decompression surgery as a treatment for migraine headaches.
Association between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Migraine The researchers analyzed data from nearly 26,000 Americans responding to a national health survey. Among other questions, participants were asked whether they had had carpal tunnel syndrome during the past year or "severe headache or migraine" during the past three months. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have symptoms such as hand numbness and weakness, resulting from pressure on the median nerve in the wrist.
Based on these definitions, 3.7 percent of respondents had carpal tunnel syndrome and 16.3 percent had migraine headache. Associations between these two conditions were analyzed, with adjustment for patient- and health-related risk factors.
The results suggested that people with migraine were more likely to have carpal tunnel syndrome, and vice versa. Migraine was present in 34 percent of respondents with CTS, compared to 16 percent of those without CTS. After adjustment for other factors, the odds of having migraine were 2.6 times higher for those with CTS.
Carpal tunnel syndrome was present in eight percent of participants with migraine versus three percent of those without migraine. On adjusted analysis, the odds of having CTS were about 2.7 times higher for those with migraine.
The two conditions had some shared risk factors—especially female sex, obesity, diabetes, and smoking. Carpal tunnel syndrome was associated with older age and migraine with younger age. Both conditions were less common in Asians, and CTS was less common in Hispanics. The associations between CTS and migraine were independent of all of these factors.
Could Migraine Indicate Higher Future Risk of CTS?Both CTS and migraines are common conditions with high costs and disability. The contributing causes of both conditions are "poorly understood." Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common of a group of related conditions called compression neuropathies, with symptoms related to pressure on nerves.
Historically, migraine has not been considered to be a compression neuropathy. Dr. Law and colleagues write, "Recently, however, there is some evidence that migraine headache may be triggered by nerve compression in the head and neck, with some patients responding to nerve decompression by surgical release."
Some studies have reported improvement in migraine headaches after surgery to relieve pressure on nerves at specific migraine "trigger points." However, this concept remains "controversial" and "heavily debated," according to the authors.
The new study is the first to show an association between CTS and migraine. The nature of the connection remains unclear—the two conditions may share some "common systemic or neurologic risk factor," the researchers write.
Noting that migraine tends to occur at younger ages and CTS at older ages, Dr. Law and coauthors call for further studies to determine whether migraine headache may be an "early indicator" of patients who are more likely to develop CTS in the future. If so, such a connection "would allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment, or even prevention, of CTS by modification of risk factors," they conclude. To hear more from the authors on their findings, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrGFotX9oxM.
Article: "An Association between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Migraine Headaches-National Health Interview Survey, 2010." (doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000257)
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open® is published by Wolters Kluwer.
###
About PRS Global OpenPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open (www.prsgo.com) is a companion journal to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ flagship publication, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. PRS GO is an open access, rigorously peer-reviewed, international journal focusing on global plastic and reconstructive surgery. PRS GO educates and supports plastic surgeons globally to provide the highest quality patient care and maintain professional and ethical standards through education, research, and advocacy.
About ASPSThe American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
About Wolters KluwerWolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information services. Professionals in the areas of legal, business, tax, accounting, finance, audit, risk, compliance and healthcare rely on Wolters Kluwer’s market leading information-enabled tools and software solutions to manage their business efficiently, deliver results to their clients, and succeed in an ever more dynamic world.
Wolters Kluwer reported 2014 annual revenues of €3.7 billion. The group serves customers in over 170 countries, and employs over 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
For more information about our products and organization, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow @WKHealth or @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on , or follow WoltersKluwerComms on YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT
Register for reporter access to contact detailsCITATIONS
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open
RSS