scholarly journals The Potential Benefit of Intracarpal Pressure Measurement in Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery – An Analysis of EMG Findings and Pressure Values

2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kanta ◽  
Edvard Ehler ◽  
Jan Kremláček ◽  
Svatopluk Řehák ◽  
David Laštovička ◽  
...  

Endoscopic carpal tunnel syndrome surgery is a modern minimally invasive method of carpal tunnel decompression. However, the method does also have its critics, who emphasize that there is an increased rate of complications in comparison to open procedures. To further improve and optimize results of endoscopic surgery we used an intracarpal pressure sensor to verify the effect of carpal tunnel decompression. The endoscopic single portal approach was used in all cases. Median nerve conduction studies were performed prior to and 3 months after surgery. Two groups, those with pressure studies and those without, were then compared according to several EMG parameters such as: median nerve distal motor latency, amplitude of motor response, sensory nerve conduction velocity to the index finger, and amplitude of sensory nerve action potential. In both groups, we observed similarly significant improvements in all conduction parameters, except the amplitude of motor response, which did not change in either group, i.e. no difference in postoperative EMG between the two groups was observed. Despite this fact, intracarpal pressure measurement is still useful in localising the point in which the median nerve is compressed and provides valuable functional information on the level decompression achieved.

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dante Guilherme Velasco Hardoim ◽  
Guilherme Bueno de Oliveira ◽  
João Aris Kouyoumdjian

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.


Author(s):  
Merve Nalbant ◽  
Oya Ümit Yemişci ◽  
Selin Özen ◽  
Şehnaz Tezcan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on clinical, ultrasonographic (US), and electrophysiological findings in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Patients and methods: Between January 2015 and August 2015, 42 patients (7 males, 35 females; mean age: 50.4±8.7 years; range, 32 to 65 years) with mild-to-moderate CTS were randomly assigned to one of two groups: active LLLT (therapy group, n=22) 0.8 J/painful point and sham LLLT groups (n=20). Both groups wore neutral wrist orthoses. The patients were evaluated before and after 15 sessions of therapy (670 nm, 4 J/session over the carpal tunnel). Follow-up parameters included the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), Functional Status Scale (FSS), nerve conduction studies and US evaluation of the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), vascularization (via power Doppler), flattening ratio (FR), and palmar bowing of the flexor retinaculum. Results: Nocturnal paresthesia improved in both groups; however, pain and patients with a positive Phalen’s test reduced only in the therapy group (p=0.031). The FSS and SSS scores also improved only in the therapy group (p<0.001). Electrophysiologically, median sensory nerve conduction velocities showed a significant improvement only in the therapy group (p=0.002). The CSA, FR, and vascularization of the median nerve showed a significant improvement in the therapy group alone (p<0.001, p=0.048, and p=0.021, respectively). Conclusion: Improvements in the signs and symptoms of CTS and hand function, the improvements in sensory nerve conduction studies, and reduction in median nerve CSA, FR and vascularity in the LLLT group can be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of LLLT. This study provides new US data demonstrating efficacy of LLLT along with a clinical and electrophysiological improvement. The LLLT seems to be an easily applied, non-invasive treatment option.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 624
Author(s):  
Christina T. Rüsch ◽  
Ursula Knirsch ◽  
Daniel M. Weber ◽  
Marianne Rohrbach ◽  
André Eichenberger ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a compressive mononeuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist, is rare in childhood and occurs most frequently due to secondary causes. (2) Methods: Medical history, electrodiagnostic findings, and imaging data of patients with CTS from two pediatric neuromuscular centers were analyzed retrospectively. The etiology of CTS was investigated and compared with the literature. (3) Results: We report on a cohort of 38 CTS patients (n = 22 females, n = 29 bilateral, mean age at diagnosis 9.8 years). Electrodiagnostic studies of all patients revealed slowing of the antidromic sensory or orthodromic mixed nerve conduction velocities across the carpal tunnel or lack of the sensory nerve action potential and/or prolonged distal motor latencies. Median nerve ultrasound was diagnostic for CTS and confirmed tumorous and vascular malformations. Etiology was secondary in most patients (n = 29; 76%), and mucopolysaccharidosis was the most frequent underlying condition (n = 14; 37%). Idiopathic CTS was rare in this pediatric cohort (n = 9; 24%). (4) Conclusion: Since CTS in childhood is predominantly caused by an underlying disorder, a thorough evaluation and search for a causative condition is recommended in this age group.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1923-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Sabet ◽  
Karamatollah Rahmanian ◽  
Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi ◽  
Abdolhossein Madani

Background: The most common type of neuropathy in adults is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) which is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the efficacy of gabapentin on nerve conduction studies in patients with mild CTS. The patients with mild CTS were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received naproxen alone (500 mg/day, orally) while group B received both gabapentin (100-300 mg) and naproxen (500 mg/day, orally) for two months. Sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and distal motor latency (DML) were performed at baseline and two months after treatment. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with regards to the outcome parameters before initiation of intervention. The SNCV and DML showed no significant improvements in group A (p>0.05), whereas for group B the SNCV and DML of the median nerve were significantly improved at two months after treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion: Gabapentin was found to be effective for SNCV and DML in patients with mild CTS over a two-month period.


Author(s):  
Jacques De Léan

ABSTRACT:The major slowing of nerve conduction in the carpal tunnel syndrome is located in the palm to wrist segment. The aim of this study is to develop a reliable, sensitive and accessible approach to measure transcarpal median sensory nerve conduction. For this purpose, a fast recovery amplifier with a stimulus artifact suppressor was designed by the author. On stimulation of digits II or III, evoked orthodromic sensory nerve action potentials were simultaneously recorded at the palm and at the wrist. Distances were determined with a ruler. Median sensory nerve conduction velocity was estimated from digit to palm and from palm to wrist in 80 healthy hands and 253 hands with a presumptive diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. According to conventional criteria, 131 of the 253 hands from those suspected of carpal tunnel syndrome were thought to have median nerve compression. When transcarpal median sensory conduction velocity was taken into account, the diagnostic yield increased by 18.1%. The described technique provides a simple, sensitive and reliable method of diagnosing mild or early carpal tunnel syndrome.


Author(s):  
Riccardo Marvulli ◽  
Giancarlo Ianieri ◽  
Grazia Devenuto ◽  
Marta Falcicchio ◽  
Giulia A. Gallo ◽  
...  

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.


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