title: What is the role of Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing in the diagnosis of electrophysiologically graded carpal tunnel syndrome?
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament testing to detect carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome using varying thresholds and methods. [Subjects] Clinical and electrophysiological data of 62 patients (124 hands) with a mean age of 49.09±10.5 years were evaluated in this study. [Methods] Sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to two threshold values (2.83 and 3.22) and two methods, a conventional method and an internal comparison method. A threshold value of 3.22 was also used to determine sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of electrophysiologically moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Data of the first three digits were averaged to reveal the mean strength value of the monofilaments for each hand. [Results] The criteria of 2.83-conventional method yielded a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 17% in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The threshold value of 3.22 using a conventional method was found to detect moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome with high sensitivity (80%) and excellent specificity (93%). A statistically significant difference was observed in the mean strength values of the monofilaments in moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome hands and hands without carpal tunnel syndrome. [Conclusion] The current study demonstrated that Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing might be a valuable quantitative method for detecting moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kocaeli Derince Training and ResearchHospital: Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman Hakan
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Gunduz
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments; Sensitivity and specificity
references.citation: J Hand Surg Br. 1994 Dec;19(6):720-4
references.pmid: 7706873
references.citation: J Hand Surg Am. 1978 May;3(3):211-6
references.pmid: 659817
references.citation: J Hand Surg Am. 1999 Jul;24(4):704-14
references.pmid: 10447161
references.citation: Muscle Nerve. 2002 Jun;25(6):918-22
references.pmid: 12115985
references.citation: Muscle Nerve. 1997 Dec;20(12):1477-86
references.pmid: 9390659
references.citation: J Clin Neurosci. 2009 Jul;16(7):929-33
references.pmid: 19328695
references.citation: J Hand Surg Am. 1985 Sep;10(5):710-3
references.pmid: 4045154
references.citation: Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990 Feb;(251):157-61
references.pmid: 2295167
references.citation: J Orthop Res. 2009 Nov;27(11):1534-9
references.pmid: 19402148
references.citation: J Hand Surg Am. 1982 May;7(3):252-9
references.pmid: 7086092
references.citation: Diabet Med. 1998 Jul;15(7):615-7
references.pmid: 9686703
references.citation: Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Aug;81(8):597-600
references.pmid: 12172069
references.citation: J Hand Ther. 1994 Jul-Sep;7(3):158-62
references.pmid: 7951707
references.citation: J Hand Surg Am. 2000 Jan;25(1):120-7
references.pmid: 10642481
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986 Jun;68(5):735-7
references.pmid: 3722231
references.citation: J Hand Ther. 2004 Apr-Jun;17(2):309-19
references.pmid: 15162113
references.citation: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984 Jan;66(1):60-4
references.pmid: 6690444