title: Palmar cutaneous nerve conduction in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBm) conduction in patients with clinically diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), to compare PCBm conduction with that of the median and ulnar nerves, and to determine the PCBm conduction abnormality rate in patients with CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 99 hands of 60 patients with clinical CTS and 38 hands of 38 healthy controls. Sensory nerve conduction study (NCS) was performed on the median nerve, ulnar nerve, and PCBm, and onset latency, conduction velocity and amplitude were recorded. Additionally, differences in latency and velocity between the median nerve and PCBm, and the difference in latency between the median and ulnar nerves were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 56% of the patients with CTS had abnormal PCBm conduction. Additionally, in 7 of 8 hands with abnormal sensation--both in the thenar eminence and abnormal sensory distribution along the main branch--NCS of the PCBm was also abnormal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCBm is not ideal as a comparator nerve for the neurophysiological diagnosis of CTS. The frequency of PCBm abnormality in CTS patients may be related to the concomitant damage in both of these nerves. Additionally, the present findings may help explain, at least in part, why patients with CTS often exhibit sensory involvement beyond the classical median nerve sensory borders.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kayihan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uluc
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sunter
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kahraman Koytak
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulseren
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akyuz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: İsak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tulin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanridag
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology, Marmara University Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Us
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; median nerve; nerve conduction studies; palmar cutaneous nerve