BILATERAL IDIOPATHIC CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IN A CHILD UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE

Introduction. The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most frequent compression neuropathy in the adult population. being very uncommon in children, particularly under the age of 10 years. The most frequent etiology is the lisosomal storage diseases followed by anatomical disorders, trauma, intensive sports practice and some idiopathic cases among others. In this paper we me presenting a case of an idiopathic and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in a 9 years old boy. Case report. A 9 year-old patient suffering daily paresthaesias in both hands for a year, producing limitations in hand mobility which disappear after physical movement of the hands. He played basketball at school, he was right handed and had no history of systemic family illnesses. After the exploration he scored 4/5 in left thumb abductor strength and no thenar muscle hypotrophy. He achieved the criteria of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Electroneurography tests confirmed the diagnosis. The etiology study was normal after completed. After bilateral surgery, the patient achieved a complete recovery. Conclusions. The importance of this clinical case lies in its rare manifestation in children under the age of 10, being bilateral and not being included in the most frequent etiology group. It has a late diagnosis because it has an etiology and clinical manifestation different from adults. The diagnosis is being done through electroneurography. Open surgical release is almost every the treatment. [REV NEUROL 2008; 47: 410-3]