[Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and its correlation with preoperative nerve conduction tests].
BACKGROUND
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most prevalent compressive neuropathy and its medical costs in the United States exceed one billion dollars per year. Occurrence increases with age; prevalence is 0.6% in males and as much as 5.8% in females, in ages between 45 and 54 years. Besides a thorough case history, there are other more reliable diagnostic methods such as electrophysiological tests that include electromyography and conduction velocity tests.


METHODS
A prospective, longitudinal analysis was conducted of patients with a diagnosis of Carpal tunnel syndrome confirmed with electromyography and evoked potentials. They were treated at Hospital Español de México in 2008-2009.


RESULTS
Forty-seven patients were detected, representing 60 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome; 36 females, 11 males. In forty-seven percent of patients the right hand was involved; in 15% the left hand; 38% of patients had bilateral involvement. They underwent medical treatment and the results of the electrodiagnostic tests were good (61%), moderate (33%), and poor (6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated electromyography does not measure the true magnitude of the damage; however, motor conduction velocity becomes a relevant diagnostic method as it detects almost 50% of the patients at the time diagnosis. Patients with motor abnormalities had very favorable postoperative results compared to those with sensory abnormalities.
J F
JF
Valles-Figueroa
C A
CA
Obil-Chavarría
C E
CE
Suárez-Ahedo
F
F
Rodríguez-Reséndiz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies