Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2008 , Vol 54 , Num 1

The Usefulness of Latency Difference Tests of Median-Ulnar and Median-Radial Nerves in Mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Berrin Leblebici 1 ,Mehmet Adam 1 ,Selda Bağış 2 ,Mahmut Nafiz Akman 3
1 Başkent Üniversitesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Adana Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi, Adana, Türkiye
2 Acıbadem Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Bölümü, Istanbul, Türkiye
3 Başkent Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara

Objective: To investigate of the usefulness of latency differences of median nerve-ulnar nerve and median nerve-radial nerve in patients with mild idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. 
 

Materials and Methods: 168 women, 243 hands with the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunel syndrome and 46 healthy women were evaluated. In addition to the conventional electrophysiological measurement, median nerve-ulnar nerve latency differences and median nerve-radial nerve latency differences were also measured. VAS, Tinnel sign and Phalen sign were used as clinical parameters. Boston questionnaire was used for functional status.
 

Results: Sensory latency differences tests of median nerve-ulnar nerve and median nerve-radial nerve were highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome and there was no difference between them. There was a significant correlation between the clinical findings (such as VAS, Tinel sign and Phalen sign), Boston questionnaire and electrophysiological findings.
 

Conclusion: Latency differences tests of  median nerve-ulnar nerve and median nerve–radial nerve are good alternative especially for the diagnosis of mild carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Keywords : Median nerve, carpal tunnel syndrome, electrophysiological tests, latency comparison tests.