Ultrasonic Assessment of Females with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Proved by Nerve Conduction Study

Ihsan M Ajeena,Najah R Hadi,Sawsan H Al-Aridhy,Ahmed Al-Mudhafar,Raed H Al-Saad

doi:10.1155/2013/754564

Abstract

Introduction. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. The objective of this study was to diagnose CTS and to assess its severity using high resolution ultrasound (HRUS) depending on the results of nerve conduction study (NCS). Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study, in which HRUS was performed at 63 wrists of 35 female patients with different severity of CTS (as proved by NCS). Furthermore, 40 healthy volunteers (80 wrists) underwent the same tests as the patients and have been chosen to match the patients in gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). The cross section area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN) was obtained using HRUS at the carpal tunnel inlet by direct tracing method. Results. There was a significant difference in the CSA of the MN at the tunnel inlet in CTS patients when compared with the control group. In fact, the CSA of the control group showed a significant difference from each of patients subgroups. Furthermore, a significant difference in the CSA was seen in between these subgroups. In conclusion, the US examination of the MN seems to be a promising method in diagnosing and grading of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Highlights

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity
A logical occasion that CTS present in mean age of (41.5 ± 6.5) years agrees with other researchers as Phalen [25] who reported that the peak age range of patients with CTS was 40–60 years [26] and Akcar et al [4] who studied a sample with ages ranging between 33 and 58 years
On comparing the body mass index (BMI) of participating patients (30.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2) with that of the control group (29.6 ± 3.7), the results showed no significant difference

Summary

Introduction

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity. A prospective cross-sectional study, in which HRUS was performed at 63 wrists of 35 female patients with different severity of CTS (as proved by NCS). The cross section area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN) was obtained using HRUS at the carpal tunnel inlet by direct tracing method. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or compression neuropathy of the median nerve (MN) at the wrist is the most common form of peripheral entrapment neuropathy [1, 2] It accounts for 90% of all entrapment neuropathies [3] and it is prevalent in middle-aged women [4] and is recognized as one of the most important causes of the workplace morbidity [5]. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been shown to have a role where rare causes for CTS are suspected and in the detailed reconstruction of the anatomy to aid endoscopic

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion