J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Dec;36(6):607-611.

A Immunohistochemical Analysis of Collagen of Transverse Carpal Ligament in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Chung YJ
• Baek GH
• Chung MS
• Nam WD
• Lee YH
• Lee CH
• Lee DY
• Han HS

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to determine differences in the specific collagen types of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and a control group without CTS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Surgical specimens from 19 dissected TCLs in patients with idiopathic CTS and 5 controls without CTS were taken (1x1 cm2). We analyzed the manifestations of collagen types I and III by immunohistochemical staining.
RESULTS
We found a homogeneous manifestation of type I and III collagens in the control group. However, in CTS patients, type III collagen was sporadically found around the perivascular and pericellular area, and type I collagen showed no definite differences between the two groups. The cellularity in CTS patients was much lower than that in the control group.
CONCLUSION
The TCL in CTS patients shows reduced manifestation of type III collagen and less cellularity. These intrinsic changes may play a role in the different manifestations of collagen types in TCL.

Keyword

Carpal tunnel syndrome; Transverse carpal ligament; Immunohistochemical staining; Collagen types

MeSH Terms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type III
Collagen*
Humans
Ligaments*
Collagen
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type III