Open AccessUltrasonographic Measurement of Mean Cross-sectional Area of the Median Nerve in Pregnant Women in a Tertiary Level Hospital of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Author(s) -
Govinda Adhikari,
Prakash Kayastha,
Sundar Suwal,
Pallavi Sharma,
Dinesh Chataut,
Santosh Maharjan,
Geeta Gurung
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of nepal medical association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.176
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1815-672X
pISSN - 0028-2715
DOI - 10.31729/jnma.6134
Subject(s) - medicine , cross sectional study , carpal tunnel syndrome , median nerve , third trimester , ultrasonography , ultrasound , carpal tunnel , pregnancy , obstetrics , surgery , gestation , radiology , pathology , biology , genetics
Introduction: Pregnancy is one of the predisposing factors for carpal tunnel syndrome, which may manifest as swelling of the median nerve. The purpose of this study was to obtain the mean cross-sectional area of median nerve using ultrasound in pregnant females at carpal tunnel inlet and its variations with different trimesters.
Methods: A total of 102 pregnant females at first, second and third trimesters were evaluated for median nerve with ultrasonography. Mean cross sectional area of median nerve was calculated in both hands by using two methods- direct and indirect. The study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance from Institutional Review Board of Institute of Medicine, and after obtaining the written informed consent from the subjects. Convenience sampling technique was used. Data obtained were compiled and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.
Results: The overall mean cross-sectional area was 6.84±1.09 mm2 using direct method and 7.09±1.19 mm2 using indirect method. The values obtained with indirect method were greater than that obtained with direct method. Mean cross-sectional area of the median nerve were higher at third trimester in both hands and by both direct and indirect methods.
Conclusions: From the study conducted, the normal value of mean cross-sectional area of median nerve in pregnant females was established.