Diagnostic Ability of Nerve Conduction Study, Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosis of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Anurag Singh Sekhon; PN Kulkarni

doi:10.55489/njmr.13042023981

Authors

Anurag Singh Sekhon AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuntikan, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
PN Kulkarni AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuntikan, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njmr.13042023981

Keywords:

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, CTS, median nerve cross sectional area, Nerve conduction study, velocity, Amplitude, sensory nerve action potential

Abstract

Introduction: Current diagnostic criteria for Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) include a patient's medical history, physical exam results, and electrophysiological findings. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic ability of nerve conduction study, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome with the use of clinical findings as the gold standard.

Methodology: The study was conducted among 30 patients clinically diagnosed having CTS based on the criteria given by American Academy of Neurology and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. All patients included in the study were underwent USG of affected wrist joint, CT scan as well MRI of the same.

Results: Out of total 30 participants, 14 (46.7%) were found moderate severity followed by 11 (36.7%) were found mild severity. Only 5 (16.7%) were found severe carpel tunnel syndrome. Amongst all three investigation methods, nerve conduction study having the lowest sensitivity (83.33%). The sensitivity of the ultrasonography and MRI was 90% each.

Conclusion: It is clear from this study that the sensitivity of the parameters utilized in NCS (maximum observed 83.33%) is lower than that of the median nerve cross-sectional area detected on USG (90%) and MRI (90%). The most sensitive, practical, and cost-effective metric of all those seen in the research turned out to be the median nerve cross sectional area evaluated at the wrist crease by USG.

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