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Sonography in carpal tunnel syndrome with normal nerve conduction studies
Author(s) -
AlHashel Jasem Y.,
Rashad Hanaa M.,
Nouh Mohamed R.,
Amro Hanan A.,
Khuraibet Adnan J.,
Shamov Todor,
Tzvetanov Plamen,
Rousseff Rossen T.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24425
Subject(s) - carpal tunnel syndrome , medicine , retinaculum , median nerve , nerve conduction study , confidence interval , nerve conduction , ultrasonography , prospective cohort study , mononeuropathy , surgery , nuclear medicine , wrist , peripheral neuropathy , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus
ABSTRACT Introduction We assessed the yield of high‐resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in patients with clinically definite carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and normal nerve conduction studies (NCS). Methods This blinded, prospective, cross‐sectional study involved 35 patients (60 hands) with clinically definite CTS and normal NCS, and 20 controls (40 hands). Cross‐sectional area (CSAs) of the median nerve at the level of the pisiform bone and flexor retinaculum thickness (FRT) were measured. Results CSA was abnormal in 48.6% of patients (confidence interval 32.0–65.2%, P = 0.95). FRT was increased in only 34.3% (18.3–49.7%), but was independently abnormal in 2 patients. CSA abnormalities correlated with positive provocative tests and sensory loss. The HRUS changes were mild. Conclusions HRUS confirms clinically diagnosed CTS in about half of the patients with normal NCS. Muscle Nerve 51: 592–597, 2015