This 16-year retrospective study reports the data on 456 consecutive patients with 557 peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) between 1989 and 2004. Most patients were men (74%) and the mean age was 32.4 years. In 83% of cases the PNIs were isolated; combined lesions most commonly involved the ulnar and median nerves. Upper-limb PNIs occurred in 73.5% of cases; the ulnar nerve was most often injured, either singly or in combination. Vehicle accidents affecting the brachial plexus or radial, sciatic, facial, and peroneal nerves were the most common cause of injury. Penetrating trauma commonly affected the ulnar and median nerves; falls and gunshot wounds frequently affected the ulnar, radial, and median nerves; and sports injuries, particularly soccer, affected mainly the peroneal and tibial nerves. More than half of the brachial plexus lesions after vehicular accidents were from motorcycle crashes.

To determine the role of personal variables as risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their relationship to severity of nerve conduction abnormality, we studied 210 consecutive symptomatic CTS patients and 320 controls subjects without CTS symptomatology or known systemic disorders. The CTS group was classified according to the severity of nerve conduction changes. The risk factors for CTS and its severity were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate analysis. Presence of CTS was significantly related to increase of body mass index (BMI) and wrist index. More severe nerve conduction abnormalities were associated with greater age and wrist index but not with higher BMI.

Reference jitter values from concentric needle electrode recordings were developed from signals of defined quality while seeking to avoid creating supernormal values.

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The aim of this study was to estimate normal jitter in voluntarily activated extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and orbicularis oculi (OOc) muscles using a disposable concentric needle electrode (CNE). The EDC of 67 normal subjects (22 males and 45 females, mean age 35.5 +/- 10.2 years) and the OOc of 50 normal subjects (13 males and 37 females, mean age 37.9 +/- 9.6 years) were studied. Jitter values were expressed as the mean consecutive difference (MCD) of 20 potential pairs. The mean MCD for EDC was 23.6 +/- 3.1 micros (upper 95% confidence limit [CL]: 29.7 micros). The mean MCD of all potential pairs (n = 1340) was 23.5 +/- 7.3 micros (95% CL: 38.2 micros). The mean MCD for the 18th highest value was 31.4 +/- 4.9 micros (95% CL: 41.2 micros). The mean MCD for OOc was 24.7 +/- 3.1 micros (95% CL: 31.0 micros). The mean MCD of all potential pairs (n = 1000) was 24.7 +/- 7.1 micros (95% CL: 39.0 micros). The mean MCD for the 18th highest value was 32.7 +/- 4.1 micros (95% CL: 40.9 micros). Our reported CNE jitter values obtained during voluntary activation represent the largest series currently available. The suggested practical limit in the EDC for mean MCD was 30 mus and for outliers was 42 micros, and in the OOc for mean MCD was 31 micros and 41 micros for outliers. The present study confirms that CNE can be used to assess jitter values, although certain precautions must be taken.

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-Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been correlated to body mass index (BMI) increase. The present study was done in a Brazilian population to compare BMI values in the following groups: first, CTS vs. controls subjects, and, second CTS groups of increasing median sensory latency (MSL). According to MSL≥3.7 ms (wristindex finger, 14 cm), median/ulnar sensory latency difference≥0.5 ms (ring finger, 14 cm) or median palm-to-wrist (8 cm) latency≥2.3 ms (all peak-measured), 141 cases (238 hands) had CTS confirmation. All were symptomatic; previous surgery and polyneuropathy were excluded; mean age 50.3; 90.8% female. Controls subjects (n=243; mean age 43.0; 96.7% female) and CTS cases had BMI calculated (kg/m 2 ). Controls subjects had a mean BMI of 25.43±4.80 versus 28.38±4.69 of all CTS cases, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The CTS groups of increasing MSL severity do not show additional increase in BMI (28.44 for incipient, 28.27 for mild, 28.75 for moderate and 29.0 for severe). We conclude that CTS cases have a significant correlation with higher BMI when compared to controls subjects; however, higher BMI do not represent a statistically significant increasing risk for more severe MSL.KEY WORDS: carpal tunnel syndrome, median nerve, compressive neuropathy, body mass index, nerve conduction studies. Índice de massa corporal e síndrome do túnel do carpoRESUMO -Síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC) pode ser estar relacionada ao aumento de índice de massa corporal (IMC). O presente estudo foi realizado em uma população brasileira para comparar valores de IMC entre casos com STC e controles assintomáticos; os casos com STC foram ainda divididos em subgrupos de gravidade progressiva de acordo com a latência distal sensitiva do nervo mediano (LDS-M). Os casos de STC (141, 238 mãos) foram confirmados com LDS-M≥3,7 ms (punho-II dedo, 14 cm), diferença de latência mediano-ulnar≥0,5 ms (punho-IV dedo, 14 cm) ou latência palma-punho do nervo mediano≥2,3 ms (8 cm), todos medidos no pico do potencial. Todos os casos eram sintomáticos; foram excluídos casos com polineuropatia e cirurgia prévia; a média de idade foi 50,3 anos e 90,8% dos casos eram do gênero feminino. Os controles assintomáticos (243) Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common cause of numbness, paraesthesia and pain in hands due to compression of the median nerve under the transverse carpal ligament, has been correlated to

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