[Usefulness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of carpal canal syndrome]

ABSTRACT

Ultrasound is an emerging tool in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound in the CTS. Twenty five patients with signs and positive electromyographic of CTS were evaluated with ultrasound. The cross-sectional areas and the flattening ratio of the median nerve as well as the retinaculum bulging were calculated. There were 24 females and 1 male with the mean age of 48 years. Bilateral involvement was noted in 18 cases witch done 43 wrists. The mean cross-sectional areas of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is 10.54 +/- 3.46 mm2 and it is over 9 mm2 in 93% of the cases. Mean flattening ratio in the carpal tunnel is 1.96 +/- 0.32. Palmer retinaculum bulging is 3.70 +/- 1.03. All theses parameters are over normally. The sensibility of ultrasound in CTS is 93%. Ultrasound measurement of median nerve more its morphologic data is highly predictive for diagnosis of CTS