title: Detecting median nerve strain changes with cyclic compression apparatus: a comparison of carpal tunnel syndrome patients and healthy controls.
abstract: The objective of this study was to detect differences in median nerve strain between patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy controls using cyclic compression apparatus. Twenty-eight patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome and 30 normal patients were examined by ultrasound elastography. Median nerve strain, strain ratio of reference coupler and median nerve area and perimeter were measured. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were compared among the parameters. Median nerve strains of the patients were significantly smaller than those of the controls (p < 0.001). Strain ratios, areas and perimeters were significantly larger in the patients than in the controls (p < 0.001). The areas under curves were 0.963, 0.917, 0.759 and 0.706 for strain, strain ratio, area and perimeter, respectively. The median nerve strain had the highest area under the curve. The ultrasonic strain measurements of the median nerve provided by the cyclic compression apparatus were superior to morphologic assessment in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Endowed Department of Human Resources Development for Community Medicine, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan. Electronic address: yy12721@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Endowed Department of Human Resources Development for Community Medicine, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kikkoman General Hospital, Noda, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Formerly at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan.
authors.forename: Wen-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Endowed Department of Human Resources Development for Community Medicine, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Elastography; Median nerve; Strain; Ultrasound