title: [Relationship between ultrasound measurements of the median nerve and electrophysiological severity in carpal tunnel syndrome].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasonography is a tool that has advanced a great deal in the diagnosis of neural compressive pathologies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In order to plan the treatment it is important to establish the severity of the pathology, which means that it would be important to know the capacity of ultrasonography to determine the extent to which the median nerve is compromised at this level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between ultrasound measurements and electrophysiological severity in patients with CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound measurements were performed with 59 subjects (97 wrists) who were referred to have an electroneurogram (ENG) due to suspected CTS. According to the ENG, the subjects were classified as healthy, mild, moderate or severe CTS. The relationship between the ultrasound measurements and the results of the ENG were later analysed in terms of their severity. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves were calculated for the optimal cut-off values in each group, taking into account their severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both ultrasound measurements showed a correlation with the severity of the CTS determined by ENG. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve in the wrist (CSA-W) showed the highest correlation (r = 0.613).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a relation between the ultrasound measurements of the median nerve, especially in the CSA-W, and the severity of CTS in the clinical context. These measurements could be used as complementary data to diagnose CTS and to determine its severity.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Espana.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bueno-Gracia
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tricás-Moreno
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fanlo-Mazas
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malo-Urriés
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haddad-Garay
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Estébanez-de-Miguel
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-García
authors.forename: Alazne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz-de-Escudero Zapico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D011930:Reaction Time; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography