Risk of de novo severe carpal tunnel syndrome after bilateral oophorectomy
No medical treatment is without consequence. Many women have ovaries removed for non malignant conditions. Sometimes those with a genetic predisposition to have ovarian cancer are being offered preventative surgery with removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
It has already been shown that premature menopause due to ovary removal increases the risk of subsequent heart attack, osteoporosis, dementia and mental illness.This study adds the increased risk of severe carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist, with pain and loss of function. It is not known why this occurs but the authors speculate a hormonal effect.
For most women with ovarian cancer ovarian removal is inevitable. Informed consent requires discussion of these possible complications. If elective risk reduction surgery is recommended, delayed ovary resection may be preferable.
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