Carpal tunnel syndrome

ABSTRACT

This is a retrospective study of 635 patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome [CT Sydrome], who were referred to department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. In this article we have presented our nine years experience [Jan 1987 to Dec 1995] of incidence, symptoms, signs, clinical diagnosis and electrophysiological studies. Nerve conduction studies [NCS] were performed with MS6 system [MEDELEC] using surface electrodes. Concentric needle electromyograph [NEMG] was performed using NEUROPACK electromyographic model MEM-7102 K. Out of 635 patients studied, CT syndrome was four times more common in women. It most commonly affected in the fourth or fifth decade. Most frequent symptoms were paraesthesia, numbness affecting the flexor aspect of the thumb, index and middle finger with or without pain. Phalen's manoeuvre was positive in 394 patients [62%] and Tinel's sign was positive in 476 patients [75%]. CT Syndrome most commonly affected the dominant hand in 255 patients [40%], bilateral in 224 patients [35%] and left sided in 156 patients [25%]- Nerve conduction studies [NCS] using surface electrodes and concentric needle electromyography [NEMG] were very useful in confirming the diagnosis