A case of severe gouty tophi-induced carpal tunnel syndrome: Operative finding and its outcome

Introduction

Gout is a disease featuring acute arthritis, joint deformity and severe pain caused through the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in and around synovial tissue [1]. Tophi are stone-like deposits of monosodium urate in the soft tissues, synovial tissues, or bones adjacent to the joints. The tophi can compromise joint motion and deteriorate bony structure, finally leading to functional disability. Therefore, early treatment using uric acid lowering agents is standard practice in gout patients to prevent the formation of tophi through controlling uric acid levels.

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