[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%.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound measurement of median nerve more its morphologic data is highly predictive for diagnosis of CTS.
Younes
Mohamed
M
Service de Rhumatologie, EPS Monastir 5000, Tunisie.
Korbâa
Wided
W
Said
Mourad
M
Zrour
Saoussen
S
Béjia
Ismail
I
Touzi
Mongi
M
Bergaoui
Naceur
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*