title: Frequency of Radiculopathy in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Paracervical Pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and paracervical pain (PCP) are often incorrectly diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy. The objective of the study is to determine how frequently such patients have electrophysiologic evidence of radiculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed charts of patients with clinical features of CTS and at least 1 median nerve conduction parameter showing slowing across the wrist. Patients were divided into those with and without PCP. Radiculopathy was defined electrophysiologically. We assessed group differences in the frequency of radiculopathy and how radiculopathy frequency varied with median nerve entrapment severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 108 patients meeting criteria, 56 had PCP and 52 did not. Eight of 56 patients with PCP and 4 of 52 without pain had cervical radiculopathy (P = 0.36). There was no difference in the frequency of radiculopathy related to the severity of median nerve entrapment (P = 0.64).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with CTS, PCP is not associated with cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculopathy is not more frequent in more severe CTS.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and †Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Santibanez
authors.forename: Stephen N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Scelsa
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies