We retrospectively analyzed the records of 253 patients undergoing hemodialysis, who had been operatively treated at our institutions from 1980 to 1991. The most common orthopaedic ptoblem was carpal tunnel syndrome in 198 of the 253 patients. There was no benefit from carpal tunnel release in 4 of 13 patients with both bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and destructive spondyloarthtopathy. These results are poor in comparison with those in our previous study, which demonstrated no benefit from the same operative procedure in only 2 out of 45 patients with isolated carpal tunnel syndrome. Depositions of beta-2-microglobulin amyloid were demonstrated in specimens of the affected sites in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, destructive spondyloarthropathy, and cystic bone lesions.
