Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The Correlation between Outcome, Symptoms and Nerve Conduction Study Findings

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 475-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. LONGSTAFF ◽  
R. H. MILNER ◽  
S. O’SULLIVAN ◽  
P. FAWCETT
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Decompression Surgery ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Outcome Of Surgery

A retrospective study was performed on 62 patients who had undergone carpal tunnel decompression surgery. Each patient was assessed in clinic, their case notes were reviewed and their electrophysiological results were analysed and graded according to severity. The median preoperative duration of symptoms was 2 years. No relationship was found between the nature or duration of pre-operative symptoms and the severity of the electrophysiological impairment. Furthermore, no relationship could be identified between pre-operative nerve conduction impairment and either successful outcome of surgery (defined as complete symptom relief) or time to resolution of symptoms after surgery.

A Clinical Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2003 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. KAMATH ◽  
J. STOTHARD
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Symptom Relief ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Hand Surgeon ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Electrophysiological Examination

This prospective study compared the sensitivities of a scored questionnaire and electrophysiological examination in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients were assessed by a hand surgeon using a scored questionnaire, and then underwent an electrophysiological assessment by an experienced neurophysiologist (blinded to the questionnaire results). Patients diagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome by either the questionnaire, the electrophysiological examination or both underwent decompression. Symptom relief was taken as the “gold standard” for true carpal tunnel syndrome. The results showed a sensitivity of 85% for the scored questionnaire and 92% for nerve conduction studies with a positive predictive value of 90% for the scored questionnaire and 92% for nerve conduction studies. The authors recommend that a scored questionnaire can replace nerve conduction studies in the initial assessment of whether patients presenting with dysaesthesiae in the fingers should undergo surgery. This will give major time, personnel and cost benefits.

Factors Associated with Poor Outcome Following Primary Carpal Tunnel Release in Non-Diabetic Patients

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. AL-QATTAN ◽  
V. BOWEN ◽  
R. T. MANKTELOW
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Release ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Strenuous Work ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

A retrospective study was performed of 112 non-diabetic patients (133 bands) who bad open surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, to determine the factors associated with poor outcome. None of the patients had a previous carpal tunnel release and all had a positive nerve conduction study to confirm the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Outcome was assessed at least 18 months after surgery and classified as excellent, good or poor. Outcome was deemed poor when symptoms were minimally improved, unchanged or worse after surgery. This occurred in 13.5% of treated hands. There was a higher chance of poor outcome in patients with physically strenuous work activities. All these heavy or repetitive manual workers were also involved in compensation and their poor outcome correlated with their inability to return to their original work. Other predisposing factors, associated hand conditions, duration of symptoms prior to surgery, the presence of bilateral or nocturnal symptoms, and the severity of the preoperative nerve conduction deficit did not affect the final outcome after surgery.

scholarly journals Clinic-based nerve conduction studies reduce time to surgery and are cost effective: a comparison with formal electrophysiological testing

2011 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry E Bourke ◽  
Jeremy Read ◽  
Rebecca Kampa ◽  
Anthony Hearnden ◽  
Paul A Davey
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Decompression Surgery ◽  
Time To Surgery ◽  
Electrophysiological Testing ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

INTRODUCTION Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression neuropathy affecting the upper limb. Clinical diagnosis is not always clear and electrophysiological testing can be indicated when considering a patient for decompression surgery. The downside of electrophysiological testing is cost and increased time to surgery. Newer methods of performing nerve conduction studies in clinic have become available. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the use of a clinic-based, handheld, non-invasive electrophysiological device (NC-stat®) in 71 patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome presenting to our hand clinic in a district general hospital. We compared this to a similar cohort of 71 age-matched patients also presenting to our unit in whom formal nerve conduction studies were performed at a local neurophysiology unit. Our outcome measures were time from presentation to carpal tunnel decompression, the cost of each pathway and the practicalities of using the device in a busy hand unit. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The NC-stat® proved to be a successful device when compared with referring patients out for more formal nerve conduction studies, shortening the time from presentation to surgery from 198 days to 102 days (p<0.0001). It was also cost effective with a calculated saving to the hospital of more than £70 per patient. The device is easy to use and acceptable to patients and no adverse effects were noted.

Electrophysiological and Clinical Improvement in Non-Invasive Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Marvulli ◽  
Giancarlo Ianieri ◽  
Grazia Devenuto ◽  
Marta Falcicchio ◽  
Giulia A. Gallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Conduction Velocity ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Nerve Conduction Velocity ◽  
Pantothenic Acid ◽  
Sensory Nerve ◽  
Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Background and Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common form of nerve entrapment. Clinically, various signs and symptoms compare due to overexposure to mechanical vibrations transmitted to the wrist bones and cartilage, resulting in compression of the sensory and motor nerve fibers of median nerve. Early symptoms include nocturnal paresthesia and electromyography reveals reduced sensory nerve conduction velocity. Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a dietary integrator composed of acetyl-L-carnitine, α-lipoic acid,quercetin, bromelain, pantothenic acid, C and B1 and B2 and B6 and B12 vitamins in patients with early (minimal) carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: 36 patients (28 female and 8 male) with early CTS characterized by sensory nerve demyelination and inflammation of the transverse carpal ligament. Patients were divided into two groups, group A (18 patients received physical therapy) and group B (18 patients, received physical therapy and an oral integrator). Clinical (sleep quality questionnaire to measure severity of paresthesia) and neurophysiological assessment (Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity) performed at baseline, and then at 30 and 60 days after treatment. Results: Sleep quality and Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity data analysis show improvement in both groups at 30 and 60 days, with statistically difference between them in both time of analysis. Conclusions: In the early CTS, with sensory fibers damage, use of dietary integrator, such as Micronil Dol®, composed composed of acetyl-L-carnitine, α-lipoic acid,quercetin, bromelain, pantothenic acid, C and B1 and B2 and B6 and B12 vitamins can be effective in quick recovery of median nerve sensory.

Hand-held nerve conduction device in carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective study

2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 635-641
Author(s):  
S. Veronica Tan ◽  
Fiona Sandford ◽  
Mark Stevenson ◽  
Sara Probert ◽  
Sue Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
A Prospective Study

scholarly journals Carpal tunnel syndrome: long-term nerve conduction studies in 261 hands

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dante Guilherme Velasco Hardoim ◽  
Guilherme Bueno de Oliveira ◽  
João Aris Kouyoumdjian
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Sensory Nerve ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Sensory Nerve Action ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Compound Action

OBJECTIVE: To compare a long-term carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) on nerve conduction studies (NCS) in hands treated non-surgically. METHOD: We retrospectively selected 261 symptomatic CTS hands (166 patients), all of them confirmed by NCS. In all cases, at least 2 NCS were performed in an interval greater than 12 months. Cases with associated polyneuropathy were excluded. NCS parameters for CTS electrodiagnosis included a sensory conduction velocity (SCV) <46.6 m/s (wrist to index finger, 14 cm) and distal motor latency (DML) >4.25 ms (wrist to APB, 8 cm). RESULTS: 92.8% were women; mean age was 49 years (20-76); the mean interval between NCS was 47 months (12-150). In the first exam, the median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and the compound action muscular potential were absent in 9.8% and 1.9%, respectively. In the second/last exam, SCV worsened in 54.2%, remained unchanged in 11.6% and improved in 34.2%. SNAP amplitude worsened in 57.7%, remained unchanged in 13.1% and improved in 29.2%. DML worsened in 52.9%, remained unchanged in 7.6% and improved in 39.5%. Overall, NCS parameters worsened in 54.9%, improved in 34.3% and remained unchanged in 10.8%. CONCLUSION: Long-term changing in NCS of CTS hands apparently were not related to clinical symptomatology and could lead to some difficulty in clinical correlation and prognosis. Aging, male gender and absent SNAP were more related to NCS worsening, regardless the mean interval time between the NCS.

scholarly journals Automatic Electrodiagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Machine Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Konstantinos I. Tsamis ◽  
Prokopis Kontogiannis ◽  
Ioannis Gourgiotis ◽  
Stefanos Ntabos ◽  
Ioannis Sarmas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Automatic Detection ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Recent literature has revealed a long discussion about the importance and necessity of nerve conduction studies in carpal tunnel syndrome management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of automatic detection, based on electrodiagnostic features, for the median nerve mononeuropathy and decision making about carpal tunnel syndrome. The study included 38 volunteers, examined prospectively. The purpose was to investigate the possibility of automatically detecting the median nerve mononeuropathy based on common electrodiagnostic criteria, used in everyday clinical practice, as well as new features selected based on physiology and mathematics. Machine learning techniques were used to combine the examined characteristics for a stable and accurate diagnosis. Automatic electrodiagnosis reached an accuracy of 95% compared to the standard neurophysiological diagnosis of the physicians with nerve conduction studies and 89% compared to the clinical diagnosis. The results show that the automatic detection of carpal tunnel syndrome is possible and can be employed in decision making, excluding human error. It is also shown that the novel features investigated can be used for the detection of the syndrome, complementary to the commonly used ones, increasing the accuracy of the method.

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