[Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and its correlation with preoperative nerve conduction tests]

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most prevalent compressive neuropathy and its medical costs in the United States exceed one billion dollars per year. Occurrence increases with age; prevalence is 0.6% in males and as much as 5.8% in females, in ages between 45 and 54 years. Besides a thorough case history, there are other more reliable diagnostic methods such as electrophysiological tests that include electromyography and conduction velocity tests.

A prospective, longitudinal analysis was conducted of patients with a diagnosis of Carpal tunnel syndrome confirmed with electromyography and evoked potentials. They were treated at Hospital Español de México in 2008-2009.

Forty-seven patients were detected, representing 60 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome; 36 females, 11 males. In forty-seven percent of patients the right hand was involved; in 15% the left hand; 38% of patients had bilateral involvement. They underwent medical treatment and the results of the electrodiagnostic tests were good (61%), moderate (33%), and poor (6%).

Isolated electromyography does not measure the true magnitude of the damage; however, motor conduction velocity becomes a relevant diagnostic method as it detects almost 50% of the patients at the time diagnosis. Patients with motor abnormalities had very favorable postoperative results compared to those with sensory abnormalities.