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Shear wave elastography of the median nerve: A mechanical study
Verena J M M Schrier1, Jason Lin1, Adriana Gregory2
1Biomechanics Laboratory and Tendon and Soft Tissue Biology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota.
Muscle & Nerve
|March 15, 2020
Summary
Shear wave elastography (SWE) accurately measures median nerve elasticity changes under load. This technique shows promise for diagnosing peripheral nerve conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Shear wave elastography (SWE) shows potential for peripheral neuropathy assessment.
- Limitations include tissue size and heterogeneity challenges.
- This study investigated SWE's sensitivity to elasticity changes in median nerves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity of SWE to elasticity variations in peripheral nerves.
- To assess the impact of probe positioning on SWE measurements.
- To explore SWE's utility in evaluating median nerve conditions.
Main Methods:
- Median nerve elasticity was measured using SWE and indentation on ten cadaver specimens.
- Tensile loads were applied to induce varying elasticity.
- Measurements were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Main Results:
- Longitudinal SWE and indentation measurements demonstrated increased elasticity with tensile loading (P < .01).
- Transverse SWE acquisitions yielded lower elasticity values, particularly under higher loads (P = .03).
- Postdissection elasticity decreased (P = .02), while measurements proximal to the carpal tunnel remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal SWE is a sensitive method for detecting changes in median nerve elasticity.
- Noninvasive elasticity measurement of peripheral nerves may aid in understanding intra-neural pathology.
- SWE could serve as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool for compression neuropathies.
