Changes in the carpal tunnel while wearing the Manu® soft hand brace: a sonographic study.
We studied the effect of the Manu(®) soft hand brace, which has been designed to relieve median nerve entrapment in carpal tunnel syndrome. An observational, controlled study was conducted in 10 participants, five with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and five controls, using sonography to study changes in the dimensions of the carpal tunnel before and while wearing the brace. An increase in transverse diameter, thinning of the flexor retinaculum, and displacement of the proximal insertion of the lumbrical muscle to the middle finger from the edge of the carpal tunnel were observed in patients while wearing the brace. The changes in the morphology of the carpal tunnel while wearing the Manu(®) support its use as an alternative to a night wrist splint.
Neurology Operative Unit, Ospedale Civile, Teramo, Italy. gmanente@yahoo.it
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Manente
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Melchionda
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Staniscia
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D'Archivio
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Mazzone
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Macarini
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography