We aimed to prospectively assess the familial incidence of Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

151 patients undergoing elective carpal tunnel surgery at a district general hospital were given a written questionnaire on the day of surgery. Patients were asked to give details of all adult family members and to identify relatives that had been diagnosed with CTS by a doctor or had undergone CTS surgery. CTS is commonly associated with pregnancy, trauma, hypothyroidism, diabetes, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. We asked if the patients had any of these conditions. All patients were contacted by telephone within one month of surgery to validate the data collected.

The average age was 58. 4 (Range 28 – 84). The female / male ratio of patients undergoing surgery was 4A. Overall 26% of patients had a relative with CTS. 7. 8% of children (aged > 20), 2. 4% of parents and 4. 2% of siblings were affected.

A study of 44, 233 US workers reported a prevalence of 1. 55%. The child of a person with CTS is therefore 5 times more at risk of developing CTS than the normal population. Many parents were deceased resulting in a lower recorded prevalence for this group. Familial CTS was more common than any of the conditions traditionally associated with CTS (Except pregnancy).

Familial Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is common. Family history should be enquired about in occupations at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.