The Ultrasonographic Findings of the Median Nerve in the CarpalTunnel According to Age and Sex of Normal Korean Adults.

, Park, Ji Young; , Park, Song Rae; , Lee, Sang Hoon; , Choi, Kyoung Hyo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2008;32(5):564-569.

Park, Ji Young , Park, Song Rae , Lee, Sang Hoon , Choi, Kyoung Hyo

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea. khchoi@amc.seoul.kr

한국 정상 성인의 나이와 성별에 따른 수근관내 정중신경의 초음파 소견

박지영, 박송래, 이상훈¹, 최경효

울산대학교 의과대학 서울아산병원 재활의학교실, ¹영상의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To define the ultrasonographic findings of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel and to verify the differences of the median nerve according to age, sex and the wrist in the normal Korean adults.
Method
We studied 152 hands of 76 normal Korean adults who had no symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome such as hand numbness, pain, dysesthesia or hand weakness. All subjects were examined with a real-time ultrasonography. We evaluated the flattening ratio (FR) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
Results
The CSA of the median nerve was 6.44±0.02 mm²(at distal radioulnar joint), 6.34±0.02 mm² (at pisiform) and 6.31±0.02 mm² (at hamate). The FR at distal radioulnar joint is 2.36±0.02, at pisiform is 2.33±0.01 and at hamate is 2.33±0.01. Men have a larger cross-sectional area and flattening ratio of the median nerve than women. The older group over age 50 years has a smaller cross-sectional area and flattening ratio than the younger group. There were differences between men and women in body mass index (BMI) as well as between the older and the younger. There was also a linear relationship with CSA and FR in weight and height.
Conclusion
The ultrasonographic finding of the normal Korean adult's median nerve in the carpal tunnel were different according to age and sex. Weight, height and BMI might be important factors to bring different results according to race, sex and age. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 564-569)

Key Words: Carpal tunnel, Ultrasonography, Median nerve