A neurophysiological grading scale for carpal tunnel syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurophysiology

Background:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) severity is currently expressed using varied methods in literature and clinical practice.
• A need exists for a consistent and objective measure of CTS severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document patient distribution across a novel neurophysiological grading scale for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
• To establish the relationship between clinical history and objective nerve conduction study findings in CTS.

Main Methods:

• Development of a grading scale (0-6) based on nerve conduction study (NCS) findings.
• Assessment of NCS parameters including sensory nerve conduction velocity, terminal motor latency, and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) response.
• Correlation of neurophysiological grades with a numerical score derived from clinical history.

Main Results:

• A highly significant linear relationship was observed between neurophysiological grading and clinical history scores.
• Patients with more characteristic CTS symptoms generally presented with higher neurophysiological grades.
• The proposed scale provides objective categorization of CTS severity, independent of specific laboratory normal values.

Conclusions:

• The developed neurophysiological grading scale offers a reliable method for quantifying carpal tunnel syndrome severity.
• This scale demonstrates a strong correlation with clinical presentation, aiding in objective patient assessment.
• The scale's independence from specific laboratory norms enhances its clinical applicability and consistency.