MR Imaging and Electrophysiological Evaluation in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the MRI findings of wrists in patients diagnosed with CTS with those of the healthy controls, and to evaluate the correlation between the MRI differences and the electrophysiological findings in the patient group. This study involved 55 wrists, 30 of which were clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed with CTS and 25 healthy controls. These 55 wrists were evaluated electrophysiologically, and in terms of median nerve diameter, ratio of median nerve diameter at psiform bone level to distal radio-ulnar joint level, the flexor retinaculum bulging ratio and the median nerve intensity by MRI. When the patient group, which were clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed with CTS, and the healthy control group were compared, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between the two in terms of median nerve diameters (at psiform bone level: 8.47 +/- 1.41mm and 2.91 +/- 1.01 mm, distal radio-ulnar joint level: 4.04 +/- 1.06 mm and 2.42 +/- 0.95 mm), ratio of median nerve diameter at psiform bone level to distal radio-ulnar joint level (2.17 +/- 0.54 and 1.25 +/- 0.12), their flexor retinaculum bulging ratios (26.21 +/- 5.98% and 7.27 +/- 4.53%) and their median nerve intensities. In the patient group, no significant correlation between MRI and the electrophysiological findings was found (p > 0.05). According to the data obtained from the study, we believe that the MRI examination of structural changes that occur in the carpal tunnel, neighboring structures and the median nerve would be useful in the diagnosis of CTS, especially in cases with suspected clinical and electrophysiological diagnosis.

The role of wrist MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome

“…However, no compatibility could be detected between the severity of these changes and complaints. This is in harmony with other examples reported in the literature (3,6,19,24,25).…”

Transverse carpal muscle in association with carpal tunnel syndrome: Report of three cases

“…Bilateral involvement can be encountered in 8-50% of patients (Mesgarzadeh et al, 1989). Signs, symptoms, and clinical findings as well as electrodiagnostic abnormalities associated with carpal tunnel compression of the median nerve are well described in literature (Gelberman et al, 1981;Rhoades et al, 1985;Stevens, 1987;Nathan et al, 1988;Skandalakis et al, 1992;Britz et al, 1995;D'Arcy and McGee, 2000;Goyal et al, 2001;Deryani et al, 2003).…”

Karpal Tünel Sendromunda Elektrodiagnostik Bulguların Klinik ve Fonksiyonel Durum Üzerine Etkisi

“…Therefore, studies have focused on advanced investigative methods such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging today (32,33). However, the roles of these methods in the diagnosis have not been certainly identifi ed yet.…”