Evaluation of Median Nerve in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by High Frequency Ultrasound and Color Doppler in Comparison with Nerve Conduction Studies (Code-T0114)

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent condition caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand. While nerve conduction studies (NCS) are widely used for diagnosis, they may not always detect early or mild cases. High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and color Doppler imaging offer non-invasive alternatives to assess median nerve pathology in CTS.

Aims and Objectives:

• Evaluation of median nerve swelling, nerve edema, nerve flattening, palmar bowing of flexor retinaculum and nerve vascularity using high frequency ultrasound and Color Doppler.
• To assess the accuracy of grey scale sonography and color Doppler findings in diagnosis of CTS in comparison to nerve conduction studies.

Methods: The study involved 60 patients diagnosed with CTS. Both high-frequency ultrasound and color Doppler imaging were used to assess the median nerve's cross-sectional area, diameter, and vascularity at the carpal tunnel level. The findings from ultrasound and Doppler were compared with nerve conduction studies, which were used as the reference standard for CTS diagnosis.

Results: The high-frequency ultrasound and color Doppler imaging revealed significant enlargement of the median nerve's cross-sectional area and increased vascularity in CTS patients, correlating well with the NCS results. These imaging techniques exhibited high sensitivity and specificity, particularly for detecting early-stage CTS.

Conclusion: High-frequency ultrasound and color Doppler imaging are effective, non-invasive methods for evaluating median nerve pathology in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These techniques provide valuable diagnostic information, especially in early or subtle cases, and can complement nerve conduction studies.

Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Median Nerve, High-Frequency Ultrasound, Color Doppler, Nerve Conduction Studies, Diagnosis.