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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neuromuscular Disorders and Peripheral Neuropathies
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1490873

Exploring Ultrasound and Electromyography for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Comparative Study and Implications for Occupational Medicine

Provisionally accepted

    The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

      Background: To assess the contribution of ultrasound in diagnosing occupational carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), compare it with electromyography (EMG) results, and evaluate the ultrasound characteristics of CTS patients. Methods: A nine-month cross-sectional study (January- September 2021) involved CTS patients and a control group, utilizing a structured form for data collection. EMG was performed on the patient group ('cases') and ultrasound examinations were conducted on both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Among 44 cases and 30 controls, CTS patients (mean age 44.9 years) exhibited predominantly bilateral symptoms (90.9%). The optimal cross-sectional area (CSA) threshold for diagnosis was 10.3 mm² (89% sensitivity, 84% specificity). Significant differences in ultrasound criteria were observed between patient and control groups, including the "notch sign" (p = 0.012), hypoechoic appearance (p = 0.016), and reduced median nerve mobility (p = 0.021). Quantitatively, CSA (13.7 mm² vs. 7.4 mm²), flattening ratio (3.3 vs. 2.1), and retinaculum bulging (3.2 mm vs. 1.9 mm) significantly differed between cases and controls (p = 0.0019, 0.025, and 0.01, respectively). Positive Phalen tests correlated with higher CSA (p = 0.005) and retinacular bulging (p = 0.02). CSA correlated with EMG parameters, indicating slower conduction velocities, lower amplitudes, and longer latencies (p < 10^(-3), r = -0.56, -0.62, -0.36, and -0.68, respectively). Conclusion: This study highlights ultrasound’s diagnostic potential for CTS, particularly in occupational settings. Its non-invasiveness and reliability advocate for its integration into routine diagnostic protocols, supporting evidence-based management strategies. Further research is needed to explore long-term efficacy and broader applicability.

      Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Ultasonography, Electromyogarphy, notch sign, Occupational medecine

      Received: 03 Sep 2024; Accepted: 28 Nov 2024.

      Copyright: © 2024 . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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