The Correlation of High Resolution Ultrasonographic Findings with EMG and Clinical Symptoms

ABSTRACT

Several imaging methods are helpful in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and they are, for example, traditional X-ray, CT and MRI, etc. CT and MRI have their advantage in direct visualization of structural abnormality of the carpal tunnel and median nerve, but these two modalities are expensive and take much time. Recently, high resolution ultrasonography has been reported to be effective in the study of musculoskeletal system. We designed a case control study to assess the diagnostic value of high resolution ultrasonography. Ninety-six hands of 48 patients, who were confirmed of diagnosis by self-administered questionnaires and electrodiagnostic test, underwent high resolution ultrasonographic studies. We compared sonographic findings with EMG data and patients' severity scores of self-questionnaires. Proximal swelling of median nerve at the entrance of the carpal tunnel correlated with the nerve conduction data. And compression of the median nerve under the transverse carpal ligament correlated with the subjective symptoms. Although ultrasonography is not an ideal method in diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, it may be helpful for estimating the symptom severity and nerve conduction deficit.