[Morphological and dimensional changes of the magnetic resonance imaging in the carpal tunnel (pre- and...

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression neuropathy of the upper limb, and the release of the median nerve is the surgical treatment that is carried out. There are several surgical techniques used to treat this condition; However, this virtual cavity, which we call the carpal tunnel, undergoes several morphological and dimensional changes, prior to surgery and after surgery using the various techniques that the surgeon has a predilection for.

Observational, prospective and longitudinal study conducted in the period from March to November 2009. We studied patients of both sex, with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, who underwent MRI pre and post-surgery studies, to which measurements and analysis of it were made.

We evaluated 25 patients with an average of 40 years, 14 female patients and 11 male, finding a palmar displacement of the nerve after surgery with a diameter of 6.2 mm, maintaining changes from the oval to a circular shape.

There are morphological and dimensional changes, evaluated by magnetic resonance after the release, for which the favorable clinical response after surgery is related; however, we found a larger diameter of the nerve due to the fact that they underwent neurolysis.