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Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies

Axonal degeneration, indicative of surgical decompression, may coexist in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as the disease progresses. However, the current ...

The University of Hong Kong

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) accompanied by secondary axonal degeneration cannot be clearly discriminated using the current cross-validated ultrasound severity classification system. This study aimed at exploring cut-off values of ultrasound parameters, including wrist cross-sectional area (W-CSA), wrist perimeter (W-P), ratio of cross-sectional area (R-CSA) and perimeter (R-P), changes of CSA and P from wrist to one third distal forearm (ΔCSA&ΔP) for differentiation. Seventy-three patients (13 male and 60 female) were assigned into group A (demyelination only, n = 40) and group B (demyelination with secondary axonal degeneration, n = 33) based on the outcomes of nerve conduction studies (NCS). Receiver Operative Characteristics (ROC) curves were plotted to obtain sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of cut-off values for all the ultrasound parameters. The overall identified cut-off values (W-CSA 12.0 mm, W-P 16.27 mm, R-CSA 1.85, R-P 1.48, ΔCSA 6.98 mm, ΔP 5.77 mm) had good sensitivity (77.1-88.6%), fair specificity (40-62.2%) and fair-to-good accuracy (0.676-0.758). There were also significant differences in demographics (age and severity gradation, P < 0.001), NCS findings (wrist motor latency and conduction velocity, P < 0.0001; wrist motor amplitude, P < 0.05; distal sensory latency, P < 0.05; sensory amplitude, P < 0.001) and ultrasound measurements (W-CSA, W-P, R-CSA, R-P, ΔCSA&ΔP, P < 0.05) between groups. These findings suggest that ultrasound can be potentially used to differentiate demyelinating CTS with secondary axonal degeneration and provide better treatment guidance.

Xue Deng

Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology

The University of Hong Kong

Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies

Xue Deng

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology

The University of Hong Kong

Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies

Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology