title: A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study of Ultrasonography for 6 Months after Surgical Decompression of the Median Nerve at the Carpal Tunnel.
abstract: ObjectiveTo determine the natural history of the morphology of the median nerve after carpal tunnel decompression.MethodsBetween October and December 2014, patients with suspected carpal tunnel were prospectively enrolled and underwent pre- and postoperative (3 and 6 months) high-definition ultrasonography, electrophysiology, and clinical testing.ResultsA total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study; 75 (93%) could be reached for the 6-month follow-up, and 100% were clinically better at the 6-month follow-up. The mean cross-sectional area decreased from 14.3 ± 4.4 mm2to 9.6 ± 2.3 mm2(mean ± standard deviation [SD]). The mean distal motor latency decreased from 6.5 ± 2.2 msec to 4.4 ± 0.8 msec (mean ± SD). Distal motor latency improved statistically significantly after surgical decompression as well, but sooner.ConclusionWe present the second largest series of patients with sonographic follow-up after surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.affiliation: Center for Peripheral Neurosurgery, Dossenheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staub
authors.affiliation: Center for Peripheral Neurosurgery, Dossenheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dombert
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senft
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duetzmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography