Median Nerve Shear Wave Elastography Is Associated With the Neurophysiological Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2024-07, Vol.43 (7), p.1253-1263
• Main Authors: Martikkala, Lauri, Pemmari, Antti, Himanen, Sari‐Leena, Mäkelä, Katri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; carpal tunnel syndrome; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - physiopathology; cross‐sectional area; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Female; Humans; Male; median nerve; Median Nerve - diagnostic imaging; Median Nerve - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Neural Conduction - physiology; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; shear wave elastography; ultrasound
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.1002/jum.16450

Objectives This study examines the associations between the median nerve (MN) shear wave elastography (SWE), the MN cross‐sectional area (CSA), patient's symptoms, and the neurophysiological severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The most appropriate site to perform SWE was also tested. Methods This prospective study comprised 86 wrists of 47 consecutive patients who volunteered for MN ultrasound after an electrodiagnostic study. The neurophysiological severity of CTS was assessed according to the results of a nerve conduction study (NCS). The MN CSA was measured at the carpal tunnel inlet (wCSA) and the forearm (fCSA). SWE was performed on the MN in a longitudinal orientation at the wrist crease (wSWE), at the forearm (fSWE), and within the carpal tunnel (tSWE). Results The wCSA and wSWE correlated positively with the neurophysiological severity of CTS (r = .619, P