BACKGROUND Non-inflammatory thickening of the subsynovial connective tissue is a common histological finding in carpal tunnel syndrome. This subsynovial connective tissue thickening may precede changes in electrodiagnostic testing. Therefore, measuring subsynovial connective tissue thickness may help in detecting early changes in carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS To provide an overview of subsynovial connective tissue thickness characteristics in subjects with and without carpal tunnel syndrome, a systematic review of articles, assessing human subsynovial connective tissue, was performed using MEDLINE, CENTRAL and EMBASE. FINDINGS Seven studies were included for qualitative analysis. Measurements were done ex vivo (laser (n = 3), photographic (n = 1), micrometric (n = 1)) and in vivo (ultrasound (n = 3)). All four case-control studies showed a significant difference in subsynovial connective tissue thickness between subjects with and without carpal tunnel syndrome. One study showed good correlation between ultrasound and anatomical measurements. No correlation was found between subsynovial connective tissue thickness and symptom duration, electrodiagnostic changes, age and sex. INTERPRETATION Subsynovial connective tissue thickness may be a valuable aid in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome. No factors influencing subsynovial connective tissue thickness are identified, although they are not well investigated.

中文翻译：

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腕管综合征中的滑膜下结缔组织厚度：系统评价。

背景技术滑膜下结缔组织的非炎性增厚是腕管综合征的常见组织学发现。滑膜下结缔组织增厚可能在电诊断测试改变之前。因此，测量滑膜下结缔组织厚度可能有助于检测腕管综合症的早期变化。方法为了提供具有和不具有腕管综合症的受试者的滑膜下结缔组织厚度特征的概述，使用MEDLINE，CENTRAL和EMBASE对文章进行了系统综述，评估了人体滑膜下结缔组织。结果纳入七项研究进行定性分析。分别在离体（激光（n = 3），照相（n = 1），微米（n = 1））和体内（超声（n = 3））进行测量。所有四项病例对照研究均显示，患有和不患有腕管综合症的受试者滑膜下结缔组织厚度差异显着。一项研究表明超声与解剖学测量之间具有良好的相关性。滑膜下结缔组织厚度与症状持续时间，电诊断变化，年龄和性别之间未发现相关性。解释滑膜下结缔组织厚度可能是诊断腕管综合症的有价值的帮助。尽管尚未进行充分调查，但未发现影响滑膜下结缔组织厚度的因素。滑膜下结缔组织厚度与症状持续时间，电诊断变化，年龄和性别之间未发现相关性。解释滑膜下结缔组织厚度可能是诊断腕管综合症的有价值的帮助。尽管尚未进行充分调查，但未发现影响滑膜下结缔组织厚度的因素。滑膜下结缔组织厚度与症状持续时间，电诊断变化，年龄和性别之间未发现相关性。解释滑膜下结缔组织厚度可能是诊断腕管综合症的有价值的帮助。尽管尚未进行充分调查，但未发现影响滑膜下结缔组织厚度的因素。