Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder with several known risk factors. However, the role of radiographic characteristics of the distal radius and risk factors of CTS has been overlooked. Objectives: To identify radiographic characteristics of the distal radius as the risk factors of CTS. Methods: In a case-control study, 60 patients with CTS who underwent surgical treatment (case group) and 60 people who underwent radiographic evaluation for reasons other than CTS (control group) were included. The case and control participants were matched for age and sex. Radiographic records of the patients were reviewed in the picture archiving and communication system, and the distal radius characteristics, including volar tilt, radius slope, radius height, and ulnar variance, were investigated. Results: The Mean±SD volar tilt was 10.49±6.42º in the case group and 16.65±5.31º in the control group (P <0.001). The Mean±SD radius inclination angle was 19.58±4.72º in the case group and 17.88±4.88º in the control group (P=0.049). The Mean±SD height of radius was 10.30±3.21 mm in the case group and 12.24±5.33 mm in the control group (P=0.017). The Mean±SD ulnar variance was 1.36±1.43 mm in the case group and 0.75±0.27 mm in the control groups (P=0.002). Conclusion: Radiological characteristics of the distal radius are significantly different between the CTS and non-CTS patients and could be regarded as the inherent risk factors of CTS development.

Background: Carpal malalignment following the treatment of scaphoid nonunion increases the risk of Dorsal Intercalated Segment Instability (DISI) and progressive radiocarpal arthrosis. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the outcome of interpositional bone grafting without preplanning to correct carpal malalignment in treating scaphoid nonunion. Methods: Patients and Methods: In a retrospective study, 96 patients who underwent surgery to treat scaphoid nonunion (interpositional bone grafting without correction of carpal malalignment) were included. Indices of carpal malalignment, including the lunocapitate and scapholunate angles, were assessed before and one year after the surgery. A lunocapitate angle of more than15º and a scapholunate angle of more than 60º were considered a sign of DISI. Results: The study population included 93 men (96.9%) and three women (3.1%) with a Mean±SD age of 26.1±3.1 years. The mean±SD time from fracture to nonunion surgery was 8.6±4.2 months. The Mean±SD lunocapitate angle was 15.2±13.1º before and 14.4±11º one year after the surgery (P=0.48). The Mean±SD scapholunate angle was 63.9±15.2º before and 64.5±14.6º after the surgery (P=0.69). DISI was present in 67 patients (69.8%) before and 66 (68.8%) after the surgery. This difference was not statistically significant, too (P=0.89). Conclusion: Correction of carpal malalignment should be preoperatively planned to treat scaphoid nonunion to reduce the risk of postoperative DISI and subsequent radiocarpal arthrosis.