Ultrasound: A Screening Tool for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 102-108
Author(s):  
Bobeena Rachel Chandy ◽  
M. Betty ◽  
Henry Prakash Magimairaj ◽  
Binu P. Thomas ◽  
George Tharion
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract Background Electrodiagnostic test is considered as the gold standard for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Ultrasonography provides a simple non-invasive means of visualising peripheral nerve pathology. Objective The objective of the study was to assess the role of ultrasonography in CTS and its correlation with the present day gold standard of nerve conduction studies (NCS). Materials and Methods A prospective cohort size of 100 subjects was calculated based on a hypothesized sensitivity of 90% and a confidence interval of 85-95%. All 100 subjects, 64 controls and 36 patients underwent nerve conduction studies and USG. Transverse images of the median nerve were obtained at three levels: proximal to the carpal tunnel inlet, at the carpal tunnel inlet and at the carpal tunnel outlet. The flattening ratio was also assessed at the tunnel inlet and outlet. Statistical analysis was done to corelate the ultrasound findings at each level with nerve conduction studies and calculation of the positive and negative predictive values. The cut offs of the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the three anatomical levels on ultrasonography were taken at the best sensitivity and specificity according to the ROC curve. Results We found that at any one anatomical level, the sensitivity of ultrasound to detect carpal tunnel syndrome by increase in the cross-sectional area of median nerve as compared to the nerve conduction studies is 90%. Conclusions At 45% specificity, ultrasonography could be used as a non-invasive and easily available screening tool in carpal tunnel syndrome. Also, the best level to look for nerve compression is at the level of the carpal tunnel inlet.

Correlation of nerve conduction studies with findings of the ultrasound of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Torres-Cuenca ◽  
Fernando Ortiz-Corredor ◽  
Jorge Diaz-Ruiz ◽  
Diego Orozco-Salomon ◽  
Andrés Naranjo-Quevedo
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Diagnostic Sensitivity ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Background: Ultrasonography is a diagnostic resource that serves as a complement in the evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The correlation of ultrasonography findings with nerve conduction studies can serve to classify new phenotypes and to evaluate therapeutic responses. Objectives: To determine the diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasound, the correlation between the cross-sectional area against the motor and sensitive latencies, and the capacity to differentiate the mild, moderate and severe degrees of the electrophysiological classification of carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional study with prospective data collection was carried out. An ultrasonography system with a 15 MHz transducer was used. Nerve conduction studies of the median nerve were performed with conventional techniques. Data from the most symptomatic hand were used. Determination of the correlations of nerve diameter with motor and sensitive latencies of the median nerve was performed in four age groups: 40 (n=11), 40-54 (n=47), 55-70 (n=42) y >70 (n=27). Results : A total of 127 patients were evaluated (average age = 58.2 years: minimum = 26; maximum = 85; SD = 13.4); female patients 109 (85.8%). According to the electrophysiological classification, mild = 40 (31.5%) were found; moderate = 60 (47.2%); and severe = 27 (21.3%).Significant differences in the area of the median nerve were found between the electrophysiological types (mild, moderate and severe; p = 0.000). The diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasonography differed for each age group. The capacity for ultrasonography to classify the degrees of electrophysiological severity was different for each age group. Conclusions: There is a well-defined and significant correlation between nerve conduction studies and median nerve diameter in patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. However, the exclusive use of the ultrasonographic measurement of the cross sectional area would not be enough to confirm or rule out an entrapment of the median nerve through the carpal tunnel, nor to predict in every case their electrophysiological severity.

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.

scholarly journals Ultrasonography Findings in Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hand ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Gideon Nkrumah ◽  
Alan R. Blackburn ◽  
Robert J. Goitz ◽  
John R. Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Carpal Tunnel Release ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Sensory Latency ◽  
Pisiform Bone

Background: Increasing severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), as graded by nerve conduction studies (NCS), has been demonstrated to predict the speed and completeness of recovery after carpal tunnel release (CTR). The purpose of this study is to compare the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in patients with severe and nonsevere CTS as defined by NCS. Methods: Ultrasound CSA measurements were taken at the carpal tunnel inlet at the level of the pisiform bone by a hand fellowship–trained orthopedic surgeon. Severe CTS on NCS was defined as no response for the distal motor latency (DML) and/or distal sensory latency (DSL). Results: A total of 274 wrists were enrolled in the study. The median age was 51 years (range: 18-90 years), and 72.6% of wrists were from female patients. CSA of median nerve and age were comparatively the best predictors of severity using a linear regression model and receiver operator curves. Using cutoff of 12 mm2 for severe CTS, the sensitivity and specificity are 37.5% and 81.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Ultrasound can be used to grade severity in younger patients (<65 years) with a CTS-6 score of >12.

Comparison of Borderline Ultrasound and Nerve Conduction Studies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hand ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 155894472096496
Author(s):  
Cory Demino ◽  
John R. Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Nerve ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Nerve Conduction ◽  
Nerve Conduction Studies ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Cutoff Values ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Median Neuropathy

Background Choosing cutoff values for nerve conduction studies (NCS) and ultrasound cross-sectional area (CSA) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is critical in determining the diagnostic accuracy of the tests. The goals of this study were to: (1) determine the sensitivity and specificity of various electrodiagnostic and ultrasound threshold values for diagnosis of CTS; and (2) determine the number of hands that underwent NCS and ultrasound that were within 10% of threshold values. Methods A total of 309 hands of 235 patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of median neuropathy was made based on NCS by the independent physician performing the NCS. Criteria analyzed included distal motor latency of 4.4+ ms, distal sensory latency of 3.6+ ms, difference in median-ulnar mixed nerve palmar latency of 0.4+ ms, and CSA of the median nerve of 10+ mm2. Results Median neuropathy was diagnosed in 235 hands, whereas 74 hands were found not to have median neuropathy. Overall, 141 hands (46%) had at least 1 of the 3 electrodiagnostic variables within 10% of the diagnostic cutoff values, and 137 hands (44%) had a median nerve CSA within 10% of 10 mm2. By performing ultrasound in addition to NCS for each patient, an additional 65 hands (21%) had a definitive diagnosis on at least 1 of the 2 diagnostic modalities. Conclusions Ultrasound and NCS yielded a similar number of patients within 10% of their diagnostic threshold values. When used together, the number of patients with a nonborderline diagnosis on at least 1 diagnostic modality was increased substantially.

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