A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study of Ultrasonography for 6 Months after Surgical Decompression of the Median Nerve at the Carpal Tunnel

Suleyman Tas; Frank Staub; Thomas Dombert; Gerhard Marquardt; Christian Senft; Volker Seifert; Stephan Duetzmann

doi:10.1055/s-0036-1593437

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, Table of Contents

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2017; 78(04): 329-336
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593437

Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study of Ultrasonography for 6 Months after Surgical Decompression of the Median Nerve at the Carpal Tunnel

Authors

Suleyman Tas

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
Frank Staub

²Center for Peripheral Neurosurgery, Dossenheim, Germany
Thomas Dombert

²Center for Peripheral Neurosurgery, Dossenheim, Germany
Gerhard Marquardt

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
Christian Senft

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
Volker Seifert

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
Stephan Duetzmann

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany

Abstract

Objective To determine the natural history of the morphology of the median nerve after carpal tunnel decompression.

Methods Between October and December 2014, patients with suspected carpal tunnel were prospectively enrolled and underwent pre- and postoperative (3 and 6 months) high-definition ultrasonography, electrophysiology, and clinical testing.

Results A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study; 75 (93%) could be reached for the 6-month follow-up, and 100% were clinically better at the 6-month follow-up. The mean cross-sectional area decreased from 14.3 ± 4.4 mm² to 9.6 ± 2.3 mm² (mean ± standard deviation [SD]). The mean distal motor latency decreased from 6.5 ± 2.2 msec to 4.4 ± 0.8 msec (mean ± SD). Distal motor latency improved statistically significantly after surgical decompression as well, but sooner.

Conclusion We present the second largest series of patients with sonographic follow-up after surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel.

Keywords

carpal tunnel syndrome - high-resolution ultrasound - carpal tunnel surgery

Full Text

References

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