[Usefulness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome].

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound is an emerging tool in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). THE AIM of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound n the CTS.

METHODS

Twenty five patients with signs and positive electromyographic of CTS were evaluated with ultrasound. The cross-sectional areas and the flattening ratio of the median nerve as well as the retinaculum bulging were calculated.

RESULTS

There were 24 females and 1 male with the mean age of 48 years. Bilateral involvement was noted in 18 cases which done 43 wrists. The mean cross-sectional areas of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is 10.54 +/- 3.46 mm2 and it is over 9 mm2 in 93% of the cases. Mean flattening ratio in the carpal tunnel is 1.96 +/- 0.32. Palmer retinaculum bulging is 3.70 +/- 1.03. All theses parameters are over normally. The sensibility of ultrasound in CTS is 93%.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound measurement of median nerve more its morphologic data is highly predictive for diagnosis of CTS.