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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies
Published on: January 11, 2019
Correlation between Ultrasonography Findings and Electrodiagnostic Severity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 3D
Hee Kyu Kwon1, Hyo Jung Kang2, Chan Woo Byun2
1Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background And Purpose:
To determine the correlation between the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve measured at the wrist using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (US) and the electrophysiological severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Methods:
We prospectively examined 102 wrists of 51 patients with clinical CTS, which were classified into 3 groups according to the electrodiagnostic (EDX) findings. Median nerve CSAs were measured using 3D US at the carpal tunnel inlet and at the level of maximal swelling.
Results:
Ten wrists were negative for CTS. Of the 92 CTS-positive wrists, 23, 30, and 39 were classified as having mild, moderate, and severe CTS, respectively. The median nerve CSA differed significantly between the severe- and moderate-CTS groups (p=0.0007 at the carpal tunnel inlet and p<0.0001 at the maximal swelling site). There was a correlation between median nerve CSA and EDX parameters among those wrists with severe and mild CTS (p<0.0001 at both sites).
Conclusions:
The median nerve CSA as measured by 3D US could provide additional information about the severity of CTS, as indicated by the strong correlation with standard EDX findings.
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