Summary
In a series of 47 cases and 55 hands operated upon for carpal tunnel syndrome, the pre-operative electrodiagnostic findings have been compared retrospectively with the morphological findings within the carpal tunnel during operation.
As a main result there was no significant correlation between the degree of electrophysiological changes and the degree of median nerve compression. Only the lack of any motor or sensory response seems to indicate a more severe median nerve compression.
In about 20% of cases with operatively proven marked median nerve compression, both distal motor latency and motor nerve conduction velocity were well within normal limits and would not have led to the diagnosis of a carpal tunnel syndrome in these cases.
The diagnosis, therefore, cannot be made on the basis of electrodiagnostic pathological values only of distal motor latency and motor nerve conduction velocity, but has to take into account as well the sensory nerve conduction velocity as well as the clinical picture and neurological findings.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aebi-Ochsner Ch, Ludin HP (1979) Das Carpaltunnelsyndrom — klinische Symptomatologie und elektrophysiologische Befunde. Neurol Psychiatr 47: 307–319
Buchthal F, Rosenfalk A, Trojaborg W (1974) Electrophysiological findings in entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist and elbow. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 37: 340–360
Duensing F, Lowitsch K, Thorwirth V, Vogel P (1974) Neurophysiologische Befunde beim Carpaltunnelsyndrom. Z Neurol 206: 267–284
Fardin P, Negrin P, Carteri A (1979) Clinical and electromyographical considerations on 150 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome. Acta Neurol Scand 73: 121
Harris CM, Tanner E, Goldstein MN, Pettee DS (1979) The surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome correlated with preoperative nerve conduction studies. J Bone Joint Surg 61-A, 1: 93–98
Leblhuber F, Reisecker F (1985) Carpal tunnel syndrome. J Neurol 232: 60
Liveson and Spielholz (1979) Peripheral Neurology, case studies in Electrodiagnosis. FA Davis Company/Philadelphia, pp 20–22
Ludin HP, Lütschg J, Valsangiacomo F (1977) Vergleichende Untersuchung orthodromer und antidromer sensibler Nervenleitgeschwindigkeiten, 1. Befunde bei Normalen und beim Karpaltunnelsyndrom. Z EEG-EMG 8: 173–179
Ludin HP, Tackmann W (1979) Sensible Neurographie. G. Thieme, Stuttgart pp 70–73
Mumenthaler M (1974) Charakteristische Krankheitsbilder nicht unmittelbar traumatischer peripherer Nervenschäden. Nervenarzt 45: 61–66
Mühlau G, Both R, Kunath H (1984) Carpal tunnel syndrome-course and prognosis. J Neurol 231: 83–86
Tachibana S, Ohwada T, Yada K (1979) Prognosis in carpal tunnel syndrome: a comparison between the natural history and operative treatment. Acta Neurol Scand 73: 120
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leblhuber, F., Reisecker, F. & Witzmann, A. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Neurographical parameters in different stages of median nerve compression. Acta neurochir 81, 125–127 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401233
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401233