Sympathetic skin response in carpal tunnel syndrome

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology 2000-08, Vol.111 (8), p.1395-1399
• Main Authors: ÖZDEN SENER, H, TASCILAR, N. F, BALABAN, H, SELCUKI, D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - physiopathology; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electromyography; Galvanic Skin Response - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neural Conduction - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Sympathetic Nervous System - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/S1388-2457(00)00333-3

Sudomotor efferent nerve fiber function was studied in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Bilateral median and ulnar sympathetic skin response (SSR) were recorded by sternal stimulation in 22 bilateral and 9 unilateral patients and compared with 21 healthy volunteers. There was no significant difference between median and ulnar nerve SSR latency, amplitude or area. The median nerve SSR was not different from that of the controls. The median-to-ulnar ratios of SSR parameters were not different in patients and controls. However, the median-to-ulnar ratios of SSR amplitude and area were lower than normal in 3 out of 7 patients with normal nerve conduction whereas this abnormality was found in only 4 out of 46 patients with abnormal nerve conduction. Normal SSR results, even in patients with complaints related to sudomotor sympathetic dysfunction, indicate that the SSR does not seem to be a sensitive diagnostic method in CTS.