Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 + 2737 word(s) 2737 2021-06-21 10:38:44 |
2 update references and layout + 2 word(s) 2739 2021-06-30 04:00:58 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Pasternak, A. Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/11466 (accessed on 28 March 2024).
Pasternak A. Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/11466. Accessed March 28, 2024.
Pasternak, Artur. "Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/11466 (accessed March 28, 2024).
Pasternak, A. (2021, June 29). Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/11466
Pasternak, Artur. "Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Encyclopedia. Web. 29 June, 2021.
Electrodiagnostic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Edit

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), first described in 1863 by Sir James Paget, is the most common focal entrapment mononeuropathy. It is defined as a compression of the median nerve at the wrist associated with decreased function of the nerve at this level. There are several risk factors of CTS including genetic heredity, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy.

carpal tunnel release carpal tunnel syndrome median neuropathy electrodiagnostic study

1. Introduction

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), first described in 1863 by Sir James Paget, is the most common focal entrapment mononeuropathy [1]. There are several risk factors of CTS including genetic heredity, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy [2][3][4]. However, most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are idiopathic [5]. CTS often affects persons of working age and may lead to absences from work and a marked decline in performance.

Primary diagnosis of CTS is based on characteristic clinical symptoms such as paresthesia (mainly numbness and tingling), pain at the wrist and hand and in severe cases weakness or atrophy of hand muscles. EDX studies include nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and electromyography (EMG). NCSs confirm CTS by detecting impaired median nerve conduction across the carpal tunnel, with normal conduction elsewhere. EMG assesses pathologic changes in the muscles innervated by the median nerve, typically the abductor pollicis brevis muscle [6].

Treatment options for CTS include wrist splinting, therapeutic ultrasound, local corticosteroid injections, and carpal tunnel release surgery [7]. Analysis of the costs of CTS treatment, including indirect non-healthcare costs such as loss of productivity caused by absence from work, led to the conclusion that established CTS is best treated with surgery [7]. Surgery has also been shown to be superior to non-operative treatment for patients with symptoms of CTS without changes due to denervation [8].

The results of electrodiagnostic studies have been found to be highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of CTS. EDX testing is performed by using generally accepted standardized techniques according to the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) summary statement [6]. In patients suspected of CTS, the following EDX studies are recommended: median sensory or mixed nerve conduction study, median motor conduction study, needle examination of APB, ulnar or/and radial motor and sensory NCSs (in order to exclude a peripheral neuropathy), and needle electromyography of the limb muscles innervated by the C5toT1 roots (in order to exclude a cervical radiculopathy, brachial plexopathy, and a proximal median neuropathy) be performed as part of the examination of patients suspected of CTS [9]. In cases of severe CTS in which the median sensory potentials and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) from abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle are absent, a lumbrical-interosseous distal motor latency (DML) comparison is performed [10].

Prolonged motor and sensory latencies of the median nerve and reduced sensory and motor conduction velocities in properly performed NCSs are accepted as diagnostic criteria for CTS. Many factors may influence the amplitude and latency of an individual nerve, giving a false-positive or false-negative result. Such factors include age, sex, finger diameter, concurrent systemic disease, obesity, and temperature. Applying a NCS as a relative comparison of two nerve segments, i.e., the median nerve and another nerve segment that does not travel through the carpal tunnel, could be useful.

 

2. Electrodiagnostic Studies in the Surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A total of 2397 publications were identified by initial literature search. After additional records (n= 7) and removing duplications (n= 324), 2080 studies were included for initial assessment by title and/or abstract. Among those, 1956 publications were excluded after title/abstract screening, while 103 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Forty-five studies presenting irrelevant data and seventeen publications with reported incomplete data were excluded.

A total of 24 studies presented detailed pre- and postoperative data and extracted data of these publications were presented in Table S1 (supplement available online). The summary of Table 1and graphic presentation of the prognostic value of EDX according to confirmed significant correlation between preoperative EDX and recovery after surgery (Figure 1) are included below:

Jcm 10 02691 g002 550

Figure 1. Percentage pie chart presenting prognostic value of EDX.

Table 1. Pre- and postoperative clinical and electrophysiological evaluation of patients with CTS.
Author Number of EDX Tests Number of Tests with Significant Prognostic Value Grading
(No = 0, Yes = 1)
Prognostic Value
(Strong = 2, Weak = 1, Not Confirmed = 0)
Schlagenhauff & Glasauer 1971 1 0 0 0
Grudberg 1983 1 0 0 0
Seror 1992 2 0 0 0
Braun 1994 2 0 1 0
Lange 1995 2 0 0 0
Padua 1996 3 2 1 2
Głowacki 1996 2 0 0 0
Concannon 1997 1 0 1 0
Padua 1997 3 3 1 2
Choi 1998 2 0 1 0
Nakamura 1999 4 0 1 0
Dudley Porras 2000 4 2 1 1
Mondelli 2001 5 1 1 1
Finsen 2001 1 0 1 0
Bland 2001 4 0 1 1
Kouyoumdjian 2002 3 0 1 0
Borisch 2003 2 0 0 0
Schrijver 2005 3 0 0 0
Tay 2006 2 0 1 0
Malladi 2009 2 1 1 1
Inukai 2012 5 1 1 1
Tahririan 2012 3 0 1 0
Beck 2013 1 0 1 0
Fowler 2015 1 1 1 1
Kronlage 2015 2 1 1 1
DeKleemaeker 2017 4 0 0 0
Rivlin 2018 1 1 1 1
Rivlin 2018 1 1 1 1
strong—significant confirmed prognostic value in all groups of patients  
weak—confirmed significant prognostic value in some groups

According to our results, the majority of publications did not confirm the prognostic value of EDX (only 2 of 28 articles). Padua et al. [11][12] revealed a strong correlation between neurophysiological severity of CTS and recovery, while 8 of 28 publications suggest a weak prognostic value of the EDX.

NOS scores of included publications are presented inTable 2. Mean NOS score (±SD) was 6.56 ± 1.34.

Table 2. NOS score of included studies.
Author Selection Comparability Outcome
Schlagenhauff & Glasauer 1971 3 2 3
Grudberg et al., 1983 3 1 2
Luchetti et al., 1991 3 1 2
Seror 1992 4 2 3
Braun et al., 1994 2 1 1
Lang et al., 1995 2 1 3
Padua 1996 3 2 3
Glowacki et al., 1996 3 2 3
Concannon et al., 1997 3 1 2
Higgs et al., 1997 3 1 3
Padua et al., 1997 3 2 3
Choi et al., 1998 3 2 3
Nakamura et al., 1999 2 1 2
Dudley Porras et al., 2000 2 1 1
Mondelli et al., 2001 2 1 2
Finsen et al., 2001 2 1 2
Bland et al., 2001 2 1 1
Uchiyama et al., 2002 3 1 3
Kouyoumdjian et al., 2002 3 1 3
Borisch et al., 2003 3 2 3
Rotman et al., 2004 3 1 2
Schrijver et al., 2005 3 2 2
Tay et al., 2006 2 1 3
Ginanneschi et al., 2008 2 1 3
Malladi et al., 2009 3 1 3
Inukai et al., 2012 3 1 3
Tahririan et al., 2012 3 1 3
Beck et al., 2013 3 2 3
Fowler et al., 2015 3 1 3
Kronlage et al., 2015 3 2 3
De Kleermaeker et al., 2017 2 1 2
Rivlin et al., 2018 3 2 2
Mean ± SD 2.72 ± 0.52 1.34 ± 0.48 2.50 ± 0.67

3. Discussion

Carpal tunnel syndrome is often but not invariably caused by a demonstrable median neuropathy at the wrist (MNW). Thus, there are patients with CTS with normal EDX and asymptomatic patients with MNW as detected by EDX. Hence, NCSs provide a reliable measure to document MNW, not CTS, i.e., to demonstrate the underlying lesion responsible for the symptoms and signs of CTS. They support the diagnosis of CTS, but cannot make it by themselves. Thus, the defined abnormalities of nerve conduction need not be symptomatic. Patients with abnormal NCSs but no symptoms probably should not be labeled as having CTS but rather as MMW cases [13]. A study by De Kleermaeker et al. demonstrates that most patients with clinically defined CTS and normal EDX results will benefit from carpal tunnel release [14].
While nerve conduction abnormalities commonly improve following successful decompression surgery, they often do not normalize [14][15]. It can therefore be difficult to attribute a nerve conduction abnormality to recurrence of nerve compression in a patient who had previously undergone decompression surgery, particularly if preoperative studies were not performed. This is one of a number of reasons why NCSs should be undertaken in all patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome prior to surgery. It is worth mentioning that during the past few years, ultrasonographic (US) confirmation of CTS diagnosis has proven to be an easily applicable, patient-friendly, low-cost test. However, US cannot replace EDX for confirmation of clinical diagnosis of CTS. An abnormal US test result has a high positive predictive value for abnormal EDX results in clinically defined CTS [16].
Electrodiagnostic studies have an important role in predicting the outcome of surgical decompression, disclosing other pathologies, particularly in atypical cases, and providing a useful baseline if patients do not improve after surgery. Clinical recovery was associated with preoperative EDX according to Padua et al., 1996, 1997; Padua’s electrophysiological scale was associated with postoperative functional status according to Malladi et al., 2009. Despite these findings, most publications reveal only weak or no association with clinical recovery. The slowing of SNCV may be the only manifestation of early CTS [12]. DML is a routine neurophysiological parameter in the diagnosis of CTS and can be easily obtained, but it has a low diagnostic sensitivity and a low prognostic value in no-operated hands with CTS [17]. However, it appears to be a useful preoperative indicator of the neurophysiological results that can be expected after surgical decompression of the median nerve. Data of Padua et al. suggest that when DML is still within normal limits at the time of surgery, there is an excellent possibility that full nerve function will be restored, and neurophysiological normalization usually parallels the disappearance of CTS symptoms. When the DML is 4 to 6 ms, the possibility of neurophysiological normalization appears to be around 50% at 6 months. Prolongation of DML over 6 ms is not associated with neurophysiological normalization. In patients with DML ranging from 4 to 6 ms and more, a dramatic reduction of CTS sensory symptoms is observed, with disappearance of nocturnal symptoms; nonetheless, in some cases sensory and/or motor deficits can still be present after surgery [14]. Some authors revealed predictive value of DML [18], but still there is lack of strong association according to other authors.
Finestone et al. and Rivlin et al. observed that outcomes after carpal tunnel release (CTR) were not affected by preoperative EDX grade. As all EDX grades benefit from surgical treatment, EDX evaluation may not be necessary to define treatment in patients with uncomplicated carpal tunnel syndrome [19][20].
The American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) practice parameter for EDX in CTS and the Normative Data Task Force (NDTF) outlines EDX studies and reference values considered standard of care in patients with clinical suspicion of CTS. These studies are valid and reproducible in confirming median neuropathy at the wrist with a high degree of sensitivity (>85%) and specificity (95%). EDX confirms the diagnosis of median neuropathy at the wrist, evaluates its severity, determines its pathophysiology, (axon loss versus demyelination) and excludes cervical radiculopathy and coincidental ulnar nerve disease or polyneuropathy. Patients undergoing CTR without resolution of symptoms were identified as having an alternative diagnosis upon EDX (polyneuropathy, radiculopathy, motor neuron disease, spondylotic myelopathy, syringomyelia, and multiple sclerosis). This is confirmed also by Basiri et al., who conclude that EDX studies are often necessary for exclusion of other possible causes of symptomatology, such as cervical radiculopathy, brachial plexopathy, and a proximal median neuropathy [21].
During the past few years, ultrasonographic (US) confirmation of CTS diagnosis has been the subject of many studies for several reasons. It is executed by comparing cross-sectional area measurements of the median nerve obtained at the level of the carpal tunnel with those obtained at the level of the pronator quadratus muscle. According to Claes et al. US cannot replace EDX for confirmation of clinical diagnosis of CTS [16]. 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.
In the majority of cases, a careful history and physical examination are sufficient to make a clinical diagnosis of CTS and make initial treatment decisions [13][22][23]. However, many patients present with multiple problems and/or their presentation is atypical. An EDX examination can confirm the clinical impression of CTS, which is reassuring for both the patient and physician. Other patients may have coexisting or confounding diagnoses that EDX testing and consultation can help sort out. Additionally, it is important to add that EDX studies with high sensitivity and lower specificity (e.g., ring-finger method) are suspected to lead to more false-positive diagnoses, and there is a requirement to establish cut-off values for these methods [13][21][24]. Performing, interpreting, and reporting high-quality and evidence-based EDX testing can potentially lead to improved outcomes in many patients. Some authors presented prognostic value of individual EDX methods, e.g., second lumbrical-interossei nerve test (2L-IN) [25] which could also be a better alternative EDX method in analysis nerve conduction in patients with severe thenar atrophy (which is suspected to alter NCS results) [21][26][27].
While both traditionalists and contemporary thinkers agree that a diagnosis can be made based on clinical symptoms, traditionalists argue that EDX, also known as nerve conduction studies, is the gold standard for confirming a CTS diagnosis [28][29]. They further claim that other provocative tests like Tinel’s and Phalen’s are not reliable and that ultrasound cannot be used to make a diagnosis of CTS [30]. Another study revealed lower NPV of ultrasound studies in comparison with NCSs in patients with very low suspicion of the CTS [31]. The diagnostic validity of commonly used clinical tests is debated. Studies have shown the Phalen test to have a sensitivity ranging from 10% to 88% and specificity ranging from 47% to 100% [31], but some authors have revealed that there is a correlation between positive Phalen’s and Tinel’s signs and preoperative EMG results, but in the same study there was no confirmed significant correlation between these provocative tests and nerve conduction velocity [31][32]. Additionally, CTS can have an atypical presentation with symptoms that differ from those previously mentioned. Due to these factors, EDX testing is commonly utilized to confirm a diagnosis. More recently, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ Clinical Practice Guidelines have indicated that EDX may be helpful but not required to establish the diagnosis of CTS [33].
There are data suggesting that EDX testing can provide some information regarding prognosis after surgery. Preoperative electrodiagnostic testing is useful in predicting symptom recovery after carpal tunnel surgery and the severity on preoperative nerve conduction studies predicts the rate of postoperative symptom resolution [34]. Electrodiagnostic studies should be obtained before surgery to confirm the diagnosis and estimate prognosis because patients with more severe CTS are less likely to experience complete recovery after surgery [12][18][20][31][32][35][36][37][38].
The observations of Bland et al. imply that NCS findings are shown to be of prognostic value for surgical carpal tunnel decompression [39]. Patients with absent sensory and motor responses, most of whom probably have degeneration of many median nerve fibers rather than conduction block, had the worst outcomes [40][11][12][20][25][36][38][39]. Patients with moderate neurophysiologic abnormalities had the best outcomes. Some authors have analyzed which factors have a significant impact on the outcomes of patients with CTS who are treated surgically. According to the results of a multivariate analysis, there is no association between preoperative NCS results (median to ulnar latency > 0.5 ms) and improvement after surgery. It also revealed that only sex and age are statistically significant preoperative factors [41]. Some findings reveal that younger patients more often report recurrence of symptoms, but their NCS results showed better nerve condition in comparison with older patients [42]. There are other data suggesting an absence of association between preoperative NCS results and outcome [43][22][39][44]. Additionally, there are numerous publications that confirm that there is a correlation between preoperative NCS results and postsurgical outcome, wherein patients with mild and moderate CTS achieved improvement and complete relief earlier than patients with severe CTS [40][11][12][18][20][25][32][38][39][45][46][47]. Immediate improvement (intraoperative increase of conduction velocity) after decompression is related to reversible metabolic damage in nerve fibers, and this phenomenon is observed in some cases of mild CTS [48]. Those with normal NCS had outcomes almost as poor as those at the opposite end of the severity scale, possibly because some of the neurophysiologically negative cases were mistaken clinical diagnoses.
Perhaps more surprising, then, is the fact that patients with mild CTS—especially those in whom sophisticated, newer neurophysiologic techniques are required to show any abnormality—had poorer outcomes than did those with nerve conduction results of middle severity [18][20][39][49][50].
Change of job was more often observed in patients without improvement of symptoms [49] and better results were noticed in groups of patients with light activity in comparison with patients performing types of work with higher number of repetitions and which require higher loads [51][49][52].
EDX study has a considerable associated cost [53], the procedure itself is uncomfortable for patients, and there is literature suggesting that it is not routinely required for the diagnosis of CTS [54]. The prevalence of surgeons who perform CTR without preoperative neurophysiological test varies depending on surgical specialty [54][55]. Furthermore, some authors suggest that clinical severity of the CTS based on score of carpal tunnel questionnaire score might be sufficient to predict NCS results [55] or postsurgical outcomes [56], and there are also data arguing against clinical prediction of NCS results [57]. Gomes et al. distinguished independent factors that predicted neurophysiological diagnosis of CTS, including BMI ≥ 30, nocturnal worsening of symptoms, and awakening or positive provocative tests, but the authors noted that basing diagnosis on the clinical picture alone is still insufficient to diagnose CTS correctly [58][59].
Some surgeons specializing in plastic surgery, orthopedics, or neurosurgery, who perform the procedure of carpal tunnel release, see no value in NCS as part of their routine management of CTS patients, while neurophysiologists believe that their tests do add clinical value and should be carried out in every patient with suspected CTS before surgery [11][18][60].

References

  1. Wang, L. Guiding treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Phys. Med. Rehabil. Clin. N. Am. 2018, 29, 751–760.
  2. Karpitskaya, Y.; Novak, C.B.; Mackinnon, S.E. Prevalence of smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disease in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Ann. Plast Surg. 2002, 48, 269–273.
  3. Palumbo, C.F.; Szabo, R.M.; Olmsted, S.L. The effects of hypothyroidism and thyroid replacement on the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2000, 25, 734–739.
  4. Stolp-Smith, K.A.; Pascoe, M.K.; Ogburn, P.L., Jr. Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy: Frequency, severity, and prognosis. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 1998, 79, 1285–1287.
  5. Ashworth, N. Carpal tunnel. BMJ 2014, 349, g6437.
  6. Jablecki, C.K.; Andary, M.T.; Floeter, M.K.; Miller, R.G.; Quartly, C.A.; Vennix, M.J.; Wilson, J.R. Practice parameter: Electrodiagnostic studies in carpal tunnel syndrome. Neurology 2002, 58, 1589–1592.
  7. O’Connor, D.; Marshall, S.; Massy-Westropp, N.; Pitt, V. Non-surgical treatment (other than steroid injection) for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2003, CD003219.
  8. Korthals-de Bos, I.B.; Gerritsen, A.A.; Van Tulder, M.W.; Rutten-van Mölken, M.P.; Adèr, H.J.; De Vet, H.C.; Bouter, L.M. Surgery is more cost-effective than splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome in the Netherlands: Results of an economic evaluation alongside a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006, 7, 86.
  9. Guidelines in electrodiagnostic medicine. American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Muscle Nerve 1992, 15, 229–253.
  10. Preston, D.C.; Logigian, E.L. Lumbrical and interossei recording in carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve 1992, 15, 1253–1257.
  11. Padua, L.; Lomonaco, M.; Aulisa, L.; Tamburrelli, F.; Valente, E.M.; Padua, R.; Gregori, B.; Tonali, P. Surgical prognosis in carpal tunnel syndrome: Usefulness of a preoperative neurophysiological assessment. Acta Neurol. Scand. 1996, 94, 343–346.
  12. Padua, L.; Lo Monaco, M.; Padua, R.; Tamburrelli, F.; Gregori, B.; Tonali, P. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Neurophysiological results of surgery based on preoperative electrodiagnostic testing. J. Hand Surg. Br. 1997, 22, 599–601.
  13. Werner, R.A.; Andary, M. Electrodiagnostic evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve 2011, 44, 597–607.
  14. De Kleermaeker, F.G.C.M.; Meulstee, J.; Claes, F.; Kasius, K.M.; Verhagen, W.I.M. Treatment outcome in patients with clinically defined carpal tunnel syndrome but normal electrodiagnostic test results: A randomized controlled trial. J. Neurol. 2017, 264, 2394–2400.
  15. Sonoo, M.; Menkes, D.L.; Bland, J.D.P.; Burke, D. Nerve conduction studies and EMG in carpal tunnel syndrome: Do they add value? Clin. Neurophysiol. Pract. 2018, 3, 78–88.
  16. Claes, F.; Kasius, K.M.; Meulstee, J.; Verhagen, W.I. Comparing a new ultrasound approach with electrodiagnostic studies to confirm clinically defined carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective, blinded study. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2013, 92, 1005–1011.
  17. Mühlau, G.; Both, R.; Kunath, H. Carpal tunnel syndrome--course and prognosis. J. Neurol. 1984, 231, 83–86.
  18. Fowler, J.R.; Cipolli, W.; Hanson, T. A Comparison of Three Diagnostic Tests for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Latent Class Analysis. J. Bone Jt. Surg. Am. 2015, 97, 1958–1961.
  19. Finestone, H.M.; Woodbury, G.M.; Collavini, T.; Marchuk, Y.; Maryniak, O. Severe carpal tunnel syndrome: Clinical and electrodiagnostic outcome of surgical and conservative treatment. Muscle Nerve 1996, 19, 237–239.
  20. Rivlin, M.; Kachooei, A.R.; Wang, M.L.; Ilyas, A.M. Electrodiagnostic Grade and Carpal Tunnel Release Outcomes: A Prospective Analysis. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2018, 43, 425–431.
  21. Basiri, K.; Katirji, B. Practical approach to electrodiagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome: A review. Adv. Biomed Res. 2015, 4, 50.
  22. Finsen, V.; Russwurm, H. Neurophysiology not required before surgery for typical carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Br. 2001, 26, 61–64.
  23. Kortlever, J.T.P.; Becker, S.J.E.; Zhao, M.; Ring, D. Borderline Nerve Conduction Velocities for Median Neuropathy at the Carpal Tunnel. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2020, 45, 379–388.
  24. Miyaji, Y.; Kobayashi, M.; Oishi, C.; Mizoi, Y.; Tanaka, F.; Sonoo, M. A new method to define cutoff values in nerve conduction studies for carpal tunnel syndrome considering the presence of false-positive cases. Neurol. Sci. 2020, 41, 669–677.
  25. Inukai, T.; Uchida, K.; Kubota, C.; Takamura, T.; Nakajima, H.; Baba, H. Second lumbrical-interossei nerve test predicts clinical severity and surgical outcome of carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Clin. Neurosci. 2013, 20, 1224–1227.
  26. Inukai, T.; Uchida, K.; Kubota, C.; Takamura, T.; Nakajima, H.; Baba, H. Additional method for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: Value of the second lumbrical-interossei test (2L-INT). Hand Surg. 2013, 18, 49–52.
  27. Kasius, K.M.; Claes, F.; Verhagen, W.I.M.; Meulstee, J. Motor Nerve Conduction Tests in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Front. Neurol. 2019, 10, 149.
  28. Urits, I.; Gress, K.; Charipova, K.; Orhurhu, V.; Kaye, A.D.; Viswanath, O. Recent Advances in the Understanding and Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review. Curr. Pain Headache Rep. 2019, 23, 70.
  29. Sears, E.D.; Lu, Y.-T.; Wood, S.M.; Nasser, J.S.; Hayward, R.A.; Chung, K.C.; Kerr, E.A. Diagnostic Testing Requested Before Surgical Evaluation for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2017, 42, 623–629.
  30. Sucher, B.M.; Schreiber, A.L. Carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis. Phys. Med. Rehabil. Clin. N. Am. 2014, 25, 229–247.
  31. Colombo, J.; Shah, S. Utilization of Electrodiagnostic Testing for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by General Practitioners Prior to Hand Surgery Consultation. Hand 2019, 14, 56–58.
  32. Ezquerra-Herrando, L.; Gómez-Vallejo, J.; Corella-Abenia, E.; Albareda-Albareda, J. Factores pronósticos en la cirugía del síndrome del túnel carpiano [Prognosis factors in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery]. Acta Ortop. Mex. 2014, 28, 160–163.
  33. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. Available online: (accessed on 12 October 2017).
  34. Fowler, J.R.; Munsch, M.; Huang, Y.; Hagberg, W.C.; Imbriglia, J.E. Pre-operative electrodiagnostic testing predicts time to resolution of symptoms after carpal tunnel release. J. Hand Surg. Eur. Vol. 2016, 41, 137–142.
  35. Bland, J.D. A neurophysiological grading scale for carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2000, 23, 1280–1283.
  36. Mondelli, M.; Reale, F.; Padua, R.; Aprile, I.; Padua, L. Clinical and neurophysiological outcome of surgery in extreme carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin. Neurophysiol. 2001, 112, 1237–1242.
  37. Claes, F.; Kasius, K.M.; Meulstee, J.; Grotenhuis, J.A.; Verhagen, W.I. Treatment outcome in carpal tunnel syndrome: Does distribution of sensory symptoms matter? J. Neurol. Sci. 2014, 344, 143–148.
  38. Kronlage, S.C.; Menendez, M.E. The benefit of carpal tunnel release in patients with electrophysiologically moderate and severe disease. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2015, 40, 438–444.
  39. Bland, J.D. Do nerve conduction studies predict the outcome of carpal tunnel decompression? Muscle Nerve 2001, 24, 935–940.
  40. Iida, J.; Hirabayashi, H.; Nakase, H.; Sakaki, T. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Electrophysiological grading and surgical results by minimum incision open carpal tunnel release. Neurol. Med. Chir. 2008, 48, 554–559.
  41. Watchmaker, J.D.; Watchmaker, G.P. Independent Variables Affecting Outcome of Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery. Hand 2017, 13, 1558944717703739.
  42. Aghda, A.K.; Asheghan, M.; Amanollahi, A. Comparisons of electrophysiological and clinical findings between young and elderly patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Rev. Neurol. 2020, 176, 387–392.
  43. Braun, R.M.; Jackson, W.J. Electrical studies as a prognostic factor in the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 1994, 19, 893–900.
  44. Jordan, R.; Carter, T.; Cummins, C. A systematic review of the utility of electrodiagnostic testing in carpal tunnel syndrome. Br. J. Gen. Pract. 2002, 52, 670–673.
  45. Schrijver, H.M.; Gerritsen, A.A.M.; Strijers, R.L.M.; Uitdehaag, B.M.J.; Scholten, R.J.P.M.; De Vet, H.C.W.; Bouter, L.M. Correlating nerve conduction studies and clinical outcome measures on carpal tunnel syndrome: Lessons from a randomized controlled trial. J. Clin. Neurophysiol. 2005, 22, 216–221.
  46. Nathan, P.A.; Keniston, R.C.; Meadows, K.D. Electrical studies as a prognostic factor in the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 1996, 21, 526–527.
  47. Magnussen, M.J.; Morren, J. Electrodiagnostic Testing in the Diagnosis and Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Orthopedics 2017, 40, 263.
  48. Luchetti, R.; Schoenhuber, R.; Alfarano, M.; Montagna, G.; Pederzini, L.; Soragni, O. Neurophysiological assessment of the early phases of carpal tunnel syndrome with the inching technique before and during operation. J. Hand Surg. Br. 1991, 16, 415–419.
  49. Higgs, P.E.; Edwards, D.F.; Martin, D.S.; Weeks, P.M. Relation of preoperative nerve-conduction values to outcome in workers with surgically treated carpal tunnel syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 1997, 22, 216–221.
  50. Rotman, M.B.; Enkvetchakul, B.V.; Megerian, J.T.; Gozani, S.N. Time course and predictors of median nerve conduction after carpal tunnel release. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2004, 29, 367–372.
  51. Glowacki, K.A.; Breen, C.J.; Sachar, K.; Weiss, A.P. Electrodiagnostic testing and carpal tunnel release outcome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 1996, 21, 117–121.
  52. Padua, L.; Aprile, I.; Monaco, M.L.; Padua, R.; Pasqualetti, P.; Nazzaro, M.; Tonali, P. Italian multicentre study of carpal tunnel syndrome: Clinical-neurophysiological picture and diagnostic pathway in 461 patients and differences between the populations enrolled in the northern, central and southern centres. Italian CTS Study Group. Ital. J. Neurol. Sci. 1999, 20, 309–313.
  53. Zhang, D.; Earp, B.E.; Blazar, P. Utility of ‘baseline’ electrodiagnostic studies for carpal tunnel release. J. Hand Surg. Eur. Vol. 2019, 44, 273–277.
  54. Claes, F.; Verhagen, W.I.; Meulstee, J. Current practice in the use of nerve conduction studies in carpal tunnel syndrome by surgeons in the netherlands. J. Hand Surg. Eur. Vol. 2007, 32, 663–667.
  55. Sangram, B.S.; Mayne, A.I.W.; Jariwala, A.C. Can we accurately predict nerve conduction study outcome using a carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire? Surgeon 2019, 17, 156–159.
  56. Jansen, M.C.; Evers, S.; Slijper, H.P.; de Haas, K.P.; Smit, X.; Hovius, S.E.; Selles, R.W. Predicting Clinical Outcome After Surgical Treatment in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2018, 43, 1098–1106.
  57. Lo, J.K.; Finestone, H.M.; Gilbert, K. Prospective evaluation of the clinical prediction of electrodiagnostic results in carpal tunnel syndrome. PM & R 2009, 1, 612–619.
  58. Gomes, I.; Becker, J.; Ehlers, J.A.; Nora, D.B. Prediction of the neurophysiological diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome from the demographic and clinical data. Clin. Neurophysiol. 2006, 117, 964–971.
  59. Fowler, J.R. Nerve Conduction Studies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Gold Standard or Unnecessary Evil? Orthopedics 2017, 40, 141–142.
  60. Martić, V. Concordance of clinical and neurophysiologic diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2015, 72, 247–250.
More
Information
Subjects: Surgery
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
View Times: 402
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 30 Jun 2021
1000/1000