Article

The aims of this study were to compare electrodiagnostic (EDX)
confirmation of clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with
ultrasonography (US), using a new set of normal values taking wrist circumference
of subjects into account,
and to determine whether EDX examination can be
replaced by US to confirm CTS. DESIGN: A prospective cohort of 156 patients with
idiopathic CTS underwent US and EDX studies. Upper levels of normal
cross-sectional area of the median nerve were established by taking wrist
circumference into account and using linear regression equations. RESULTS: Of the
selected patients, 83.3% met the EDX criteria for CTS. The findings from the US
were normal in 67 (42.9%) of 156 patients, and within this group, the findings
from the EDX were abnormal in 44 patients (65.7%). Of 89 patients with abnormal
findings from the US, only 3 patients had normal findings from the EDX.
CONCLUSIONS: US cannot replace EDX for confirmation of clinical diagnosis of CTS.
However, an abnormal US test result has a high positive predictive value for
abnormal EDX result in clinically defined CTS. US might reveal relevant anatomic
information preoperatively that rarely has a direct influence on treatment
management of patients with CTS. US testing, taking morphometric data into
account, does not have the same diagnostic value as EDX does in confirming CTS. Diagnosis

Langue : ANGLAIS