Ultrasonography of median nerve and electrophysiologic severity in carpal tunnel syndrome

Seok Kang, Hee Kyu Kwon, Ki Hoon Kim, Hyung Seok Yun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation of the ultrasonographic wrist-to-forearm median nerve area ratio (WFR) and cross sectional area of median nerve at the wrist (CSA-W) to the electrophysiologic severity in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Method: One hundred and ten wrists electrophysiologically graded as mild, moderate, and severe CTS and 38 healthy controls underwent ultrasonography of median nerve at the distal wrist crease and mid-forearm. WFR and CSA-W were analyzed according to the severity of CTS. Results: WFR was 1.12±0.14, 1.91±0.33, 2.27±0.47 and 3.02±0.97 and the CSAs-W was 7.23±1.67 mm2, 13.51±3.72 mm2, 14.67±2.93 mm2, and 18.74±6.01 mm2 in controls, mild (n=28), moderate (n=46), and severe (n=36) CTS, respectively. CSA-W displayed significant diff erences between the control and the mild CTS, moderate CTS and severe CTS groups. However, there was no significant difference between mild CTS and moderate CTS groups. WFR revealed significant diff erence between all groups. Th e sensitivity and specificity of the WFR in grading the severity of CTS were higher than those of the CSA-W. Conclusion Ultrasonography is a useful complementary tool for the evaluation of CTS. Both WFR and CSA-W are highly correlated with severity grade of CTS. However, WFR is superior to CSA-W for diagnosis and grading of the severity of CTS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)72-79
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Feb
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Cross sectional area
  • Electrophysiologic severity
  • Ratio
  • Ultrasonography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation

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