Establishment of a method of contact heat evoked potential and its application in carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

To establish a method to evoke cerebral potentials by stimulating nociceptive fibers, estimate the conduction velocities of nerve fibers mediating these responses, and assess the value of the potentials in carpal tunnel syndrome. One hundred patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 sex-, and aged-matched healthy persons underwent stimulation of contact heat delivered via a circular thermode to excite selectively nociceptors with a rapid rising time at 70 degrees C/s to elicit pain and contact heat evoked potential (CHEP). Thermal stimuli were sent at two intensity levels (49.5 degrees C and 54.5 degrees C) to three body sites: thenar eminence, dorsum of hand, and proximal volar forearm The CHEPs were recorded from Cz and Pz. The relation between the stimulus intensity and pain rating was observed, and the main components of the evoked potential were recorded. The nerve conduction velocity was calculated from the latency difference of the CHEP and center to center distance of distal and proximal stimulus arrays. The pain intensity ratings were 3.2 +/- 0.3 and 4.4 +/- 0.5 when the thenar eminence was stimulated at the temperature of 49.5 degrees C and 54.5 degrees C respectively; and the ratings were 6.3 +/- 0.8 and 7.2 +/- 0.5 on the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forearm at the temperature of 54.5 degrees C respectively. Three components, Cz/N550, Cz/P750, and Pz/P1000, were found in the evoked potentials. The latency of the CHEP was significantly correlated with the arm length, and not significantly correlated with sex, age, and side difference of the arm. The conduction velocities of the Adelta and C fibers of the carpal tunnel syndrome patients were 12.0 m/s +/- 5.6 m/s and 0.6 m/s +/- 0.1 m/s respectively, both lowered, being 93.8% and 99.5% of those of the healthy persons (12.9 m/s +/- 7.5 m/s and 1.7 m/s +/- 0.4m/s respectively). Elicited reliably, CHEP is mediated by Adelta and C fibers. The conduction velocity of C fibers in the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is decreased.