title: Single parameter wrist ultrasonography as a first-line screening examination in suspected carpal tunnel syndrome patients.
abstract: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common form of peripheral nerve entrapment. Electromyography with selected nerve conduction studies (NCS) is an accepted diagnostic tool in CTS patients. Ultrasonography presents a widely available and low cost investigation method and its position in CTS diagnostics needs further clarification with concrete recommendations for clinical practice. A prospective study of 37 patients with 74 wrists (59 wrists with suspected CTS) was done. Normative data were obtained from a control group of 25 healthy persons (50 wrists) age and sex matched. All persons underwent ultrasonographic examination (median nerve cross-sectional area at carpal tunnel entrance measurement--CSA) and median NCS studies (distal motor and sensory latency measurement--DML and DSL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CSA has a sensitivity of 93% (CI 84-97%) and specificity of 96% (CI 87-99%) in our patients group. Conventional first-line NCS studies results in our patients groupare as follows: DML sensitivity 58% (CI 45-69%) and specificity 100% (CI 93-100%); DSL sensitivity 88% (CI 78-94%) and specificity 94% (CI 84-98%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend the use of single-parameter wrist ultrasonography as a first-line screening laboratory method in suspected CTS diagnosis (Ref. 14). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nosal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grofik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turcanova-Koprusakova
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kucera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*