Background : Chronic compression of a nerve usually results in a combination of focal demyelination and axon degeneration . These changes are responsible for abnormalities detected on electrophysiological evaluation . Ultrasound (U/S) can be used for diagnosis of peripheral nerve entrapment neuropathies, the entrapped nerve is typically presented with swelling proximal to the entrapment site.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the neurophysiological and anatomical changes after surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome by using ultrasonographic and nerve conduction studies, and try to find any correlation to diagnosis and clinical outcome.
Patients & Methods: Thirty patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly chosen, ultrasonography and nerve conduction studies were done pre-operative and repeated 3 months after surgery.
Results : Twenty patients (66.7%) with affected ultrasound improved post operatively. Two patients (6.7%) with affected ultra sound didn’t improve post operatively. Twenty patients (66.7%) were with affected ultrasound improved post operatively. Six patients (20%) with affected nerve conduction velocity didn’t improve post-operatively.
Conclusions: Combination between the high resolution ultrasound and nerve conduction velocity increases the accuracy of diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, and provides promising clues in determining outcome.
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