| Journal: |
Orthopedic Research and Reviews
Orthopedic Research and Reviews
|
Volume: |
16
|
| Abstract: |
Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition characterized by compression of the median nerve (MN) within the
carpal tunnel. Accurate diagnosis and assessment of CTS severity are crucial for appropriate management decisions. This study aimed
to investigate the combined diagnostic utility of B-mode ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the
severity of CTS in comparison to electrodiagnostic tests (EDT).
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 9-month periods at a tertiary care hospital. A total of 48
patients (36 females, 12 males; mean age 44 ± 10.9 years; age range 28–57 years) with clinically suspected CTS were enrolled. All patients
underwent EDT, US, and SWE. Based on the EDT results, CTS cases were categorized into four groups: mild, moderate, severe, and negative.
The cross-sectional area (CSA) and elasticity (E) of the MN were measured at the tunnel inlet (CSAu and Eu) and pronator quadratus region
(CSAo and Eo). The differences (CSAu-CSAo and Eu-Eo) were calculated. The primary outcomes were the diagnostic performance of CSAu,
CSAu-CSAo, Eu, and Eu-Eo in differentiating moderate/severe from mild/negative CTS compared to EDT findings. Secondary outcomes
included a correlation of US/SWE parameters with EDT grades and between each other. ANOVA, correlation, regression, and receiver
operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.
Results: CSAu and CSAu–CSAo increased progressively with worsening CTS severity. E measurements were significantly higher in
moderate-to-severe CTS compared to mild or negative cases. The combined metric of CSAu-CSAo at a 5 mm threshold exhibited
enhanced performance, with a higher sensitivity (83.3%), specificity (100%), and area under the curve (AUC) (0.98), surpassing the
results of CSAu when used independently. Similarly, the SWE measurements indicated that Eu-Eo at a 56.1kPa cutoff achieved an
AUC of 0.95, with a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 94.4%, outperforming the metrics for Eu when used alone, which had an
AUC of 0.93, with identical sensitivity and specificity values (93.3% and 94.4%, respectively).
Conclusion: The integration of ultrasound, shear wave elastography, and electrodiagnostic tests provides a comprehensive approach
to evaluate anatomical and neurological changes and guide management decisions for CTS
|
|
|