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Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be caused by the deposition and accumulation of misfolded proteins called amyloid and is often an early manifestation of systemic amyloidosis. In patients undergoing surgery for idiopathic CTS, a recent study identified amyloidosis by tenosynovial biopsy in 10.2% of men older than 50 years and women older than 60 years; all positive patients had bilateral symptoms. These findings have led to a renewed interest in CME INFORMATION AND DISCLOSURESThe Journal of Hand Surgery will contain at least 2 clinically relevant articles selected by the editor to be offered for CME in each issue. For CME credit, the participant must read the articles in print or online and correctly answer all related questions through an online examination. The questions on the test are designed to make the reader think and will occasionally require the reader to go back and scrutinize the article for details.The JHS CME Activity fee of $15.00 includes the exam questions/answers only and does not include access to the JHS articles referenced.Statement of Need: This CME activity was developed by the JHS editors as a convenient education tool to help increase or affirm reader's knowledge. The overall goal of the activity is for participants to evaluate the appropriateness of clinical data and apply it to their practice and the provision of patient care. Accreditation:The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.AMA PRA Credit Designation: The ASSH designates this Journal-Based CME activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Creditsä. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate morphological changes of a released carpal tunnel in response to variations of carpal tunnel pressure. Pressure within the carpal tunnel is known to be elevated in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and dependent on wrist posture. Previously, increased carpal tunnel pressure was shown to affect the morphology of the carpal tunnel with an intact transverse carpal ligament. However, the pressure-morphology relationship of the carpal tunnel after release of the transverse carpal ligament has not been investigated. Carpal tunnel release (CTR) was performed endoscopically on cadaveric hands and the carpal tunnel pressure was dynamically increased from 10 to 120 mmHg. Simultaneously, carpal tunnel cross-sectional images were captured by an ultrasound system and pressure measurements were recorded by a pressure transducer. It was found that carpal tunnel pressure significantly affected carpal arch area (p<0.001), with an increase >62 mm2 at 120 mmHg. Carpal arch height, length, and width were also found to significantly change with carpal tunnel pressure (p<0.05). As carpal tunnel pressure increased, carpal arch height and length increased, but the carpal arch width decreased. Analyses of the pressure-morphology relationship for a released carpal tunnel revealed a nine times greater compliance than that previously reported for a carpal tunnel with an intact transverse carpal ligament. This change of structural properties as a result of transecting the transverse carpal ligament helps explain the reduction of carpal tunnel pressure and relief of symptoms for patients after CTR surgery.