EVALUATION OF MEDIAN NERVE IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME USING ULTRASOUND IN COMPARISION WITH NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Carpal Tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nueropathy of upper
extremity and results from compression of median nerve beneath the transverse carpal
ligament. Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is based on a combination of clinical
findings and nerve conduction study. Ultrasound and MRI have emerged as feasible
non invasive imaging tools for evaluating the median nerve in CTS .
AIM AND OBJECTIVES:
● To evaluate the median nerve in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome using ultrasound in
comparision with nerve conduction study
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
● This study includes a total of 37 wrists in 25 patients with unilateral or bilateral
carpal tunnel syndrome - who have come to the department of Radiodiagnosis,
ASRAMS , for wrist ultrasound during a period of 8 months (January 2023 to
August 2023)
● Patients were subjected to Ultrasound examination using philips affinity 70G ,
diagnosis was confirmed by nerve conduction study .
● Presence of nerve edema, nerve swelling and nerve flattening were assessed,
presence of increased palmar bowing of flexor retinaculum was assessed.
Radiological findings were observed and sensitivity, specificity, positive
predictive value, negative predictive value were calculated
RESULTS :
Comparision of findings of ultrasonography and nerve conduction studies showed that
nerve swelling yielded the best detectability of carpal tunnel syndrome with 81.4 %
sensitivity, 80% specificity, 91.6% positive predictive value, 61.5% negative
predictive value
CONCLUSION:
Ultrasonography is comparable to nerve conduction study in diagnosis of carpal tunnel
syndrome and should be considered as initial investigation of choice for patients
suspected of having carpal tunnel syndrome