Comparison of proximal and distal cross-sectional areas of the median nerve, carpal tunnel, and nerve/tunnel index in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome. 2013

Hyoung Seop Kim, and Seung Ho Joo, and Hyong Keun Cho, and Yong Wook Kim
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.

OBJECTIVE To provide a quantitative analysis of ultrasonographic measurements and possible pathophysiology of carpal tunnel syndrome by comparing cross-sectional areas of the median nerve, carpal tunnel, and nerve/tunnel index and the difference in ultrasonographic findings between affected and nonaffected hands and between sexes. METHODS Blinded comparison study. METHODS Secondary referral and training hospital of institutional practice. METHODS Patients (N=51; 42 women, 9 men) with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent sonography within 1 week after the electrodiagnostic study. METHODS Not applicable. METHODS Electrodiagnostic and ultrasonographic studies were conducted on both upper extremities. Cross-sectional areas of the median nerve and carpal tunnel were measured at 2 separate levels; proximal and distal cross-sectional areas of the carpal tunnel were each measured at the scaphoid-pisiform and trapezium-hamate levels, respectively. RESULTS Comparison between normative (n=24) and abnormal hands (n=78) revealed the following: the mean proximal cross-sectional areas of the median nerve, carpal tunnel, and nerve/tunnel index of electrodiagnostically normative hands were 10.941mm(2), 192.43mm(2), and 5.635%, respectively, whereas those of abnormal hands were 13.74mm(2), 208.87mm(2), and 6.693%, respectively, showing statistically significant differences for all (P<.05). Distal measurements of the cross-sectional area of the median nerve, carpal tunnel, and nerve/tunnel index were 10.088mm(2), 150.4mm(2), and 6.762%, respectively, in normative hands, and 11.178mm(2), 149.6mm(2), and 7.493%, respectively, in abnormal hands, showing no statistically significant differences (P>.05). In women, proximal cross-sectional areas of the median nerve and nerve/tunnel index of abnormal hands showed statistically significant differences, but no ultrasonographic measurement with a statistically significant difference was observed in men. CONCLUSIONS Compared with nonaffected hands, the proximal cross-sectional areas of the median nerve and carpal tunnel were greater, but the distal ultrasonographic measurements were not in affected hands. Ultrasonographic findings of carpal tunnel syndrome were different according to sex.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008475 Median Nerve A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand. Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002349 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Entrapment of the MEDIAN NERVE in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flexor retinaculum and the CARPAL BONES. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma (CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS); wrist injuries; AMYLOID NEUROPATHIES; rheumatoid arthritis (see ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID); ACROMEGALY; PREGNANCY; and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesias involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers which may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p45) Compression Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Entrapment Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Amyotrophy, Thenar, Of Carpal Origin,Median Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Carpal Tunnel Syndromes,Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel,Syndromes, Carpal Tunnel
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D014463 Ultrasonography The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz. Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic

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