Ultrasonographic assessment of longitudinal median nerve and hand flexor tendon dynamics in carpal tunnel syndrome
Corresponding Author
Jan-Wiebe H. Korstanje MSc
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorMarjan Scheltens-De Boer MD
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJoleen H. Blok PhD
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorPeter C. Amadio MD
Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSteven E.R. Hovius PhD
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHenk J. Stam PhD
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorRuud W. Selles PhD
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jan-Wiebe H. Korstanje MSc
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorMarjan Scheltens-De Boer MD
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJoleen H. Blok PhD
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorPeter C. Amadio MD
Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSteven E.R. Hovius PhD
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHenk J. Stam PhD
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorRuud W. Selles PhD
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Introduction: Changes in subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients may result in altered dynamics; consequently, quantification of these dynamics might support objective diagnosis of CTS. Methods: We measured and compared longitudinal excursion of the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons, the median nerve, and the SSCT between the most and least affected hands of 51 CTS patients during extension-to-fist motion. Results: Median nerve and flexor digitorum superficialis tendon excursions in the most affected hands were smaller than in the least affected hands of the same patients, whereas the excursions of the flexor digitorum profundus were larger. Based on these excursions, logistic regression models classified between 67% and 86% of the hands correctly as having CTS. Conclusions: The altered hand dynamics in CTS patients may have implications for the pathophysiology and clinical evaluation of CTS, and ultrasound-based classification models may further support the diagnosis of CTS. Muscle Nerve, 2012
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