The relationship between symptoms, clinical tests and nerve conduction study findings in carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between patients reported symptoms and clinical tests with electrodiagnostic findings. Three hundred and nine patients with a mean age of 48.35 +/- 12.26 (range = 19-81 years) participated. Patients were assessed clinically and electrophysiologically. The main outcome measures were CTS related symptoms of pain and paraesthesia, Tinel sign, Phalen's test, distal sensory latency, and distal motor latency. The symptoms of presence of pain and diurnal paraesthesia showed a statistical relationship with the distal sensory latency. No relationship was found between the Tinel sign and either the distal sensory latency or the distal motor latency. Furtheremore, no relationship could be shown between Phalen 60 s, Phalen 45 s and distal sensory and motor latency. The Phalen 30 s had a significant relationship with both sensory and motor distal latency. The findings of this study indicate that both CTS related symptoms of pain, diurnal paraesthesia, and Phalen 30 s are associated with electrodiagnostic tests.