Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), median neuropathy at the wrist is the one of the most common entrapment syndrome. Recently, an electrophysiologic study has been widely used as a tool for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders such as entrapment neuromuscular disorders such as entrapment neuropathy, polyneuropathy, myopathy, etc.
We performed the clinical study in 70 patients with a clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Catholic University Medical College from January 1988 till June 1990.
The summary of the results obtained was as follows:
1) Among 70 persons with a clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome, 52 patients were diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome and 7 as cervical radiculopathy. Also there is no definite abnormality in 11 persons.
2) Among 52 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome on electromyographic study, 33 patients were diagnosed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.
3) The 31 patients complained the only sensory symptom, 5 patients did the only motor symptom and 16 patients did both symptoms.
4) Physical findings consisted of positive Phalen sign in 42% of the involved hands, positive Tinel sign in 36% of them, and weakness or thenar atrophy in 29% of them.
5) On electromyographyc study, abnormal finding was found I sensory fiber (92%), motor fiber (69%) and needle EMG (63%) in order of frequency.
6) The 4 patients were combined carpal tunnel syndrome with cervical radiculopathy.
7) Among 32 patients with a clinically syspected unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, 13 (14%) were diagnosed as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.
Considering above results, the other hand should be examined in spite of the patients with clinically suspected unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy be ruled out on electromyographic study.
