Background
: Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy that refers to a group of signs and symptoms resulting from compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The course of CTS on older patients is different from the younger patients. This difference may be the result of different underlying mechanisms. The different nerve conduction studies of CTS may signify different approaches in management. This study was done to assess the differences in nerve conduction study of CTS I younger and older patients. Methods : This study involved 224 patients who visited Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center and was diagnosed by nerve conduction study from October 1997 to October 1999. We compared the results of nerve conduction study to age, especially in between those under 60 years and those 60 years or over CTS patients. Nerve conduction study consists of motor studies of both median nerve(terminal latency, compound action potential) and sensory studies(nerve conduction velocity, nerve action potential). And we also evaluated the variable between younger and older patients group. Those variables include sex, symptom period, laterality, abnormal physical findings and radiculopathy. Results : We found that a significant increase of terminal latency(p<0.1), but a decrease in compound motor action potential(p<0.05) in older patient's group. There was no significant differences in sensory nerve conduction velocity and action potential between those under 60 years and those 60 years or even patients. And also there was no significant difference in sex, symptom period, laterality, abnormal physical findings, radiculopathy between older and younger patients. Conclusions: This study showed a significant increase in the terminal latency and a decrease I compound action potential in older patients. The different nerve conduction studies of CTS by age effect may need different approaches in management.

Background
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition characterized by entrapment neuropathy of themedian nerves. Clinical manifestations are the most important findings for diagnosis and assessment of therapeuticeffects. But, objective indicators, such as electrophysiological findings, are also valuable supplementary tools. Thisstudy investigated the relationship between clinical grading and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of medianproper palmar digital nerve (MPPDN) in CTS patients.Method: This study was done on 90 upper limbs of 53 patients with CTS (men: 6, women: 47, age: 26~69 years,mean age; 52 years). Each SNCV of MPPDN was recorded with bar electrode using antidromic method. Each SNCVwas compared with clinical grading of CTS. The clinical grades of CTS were designated as follows; group 1 is mildsymptoms, 2 is moderate symptoms, and 3 is severe and longstanding symptoms.Result: In thumb, the SNCV of MPPDN was not different significantly between 3 groups (p=0.817). In the index finger,the SNCV was the fastest in the group 1, but faster in group 3 than in group 2 (p=0.001). In the middle and ring fingers,SNCV was decreased in higher clinical grading groups (middle finger: p=0.015, ring finger: p=0.044).Conclusion: SNCV of MPPDN of middle and ring finger correlated with the clinical grading of CTS. SNCV of indexfinger was the fastest in group 1. But SNCV of thumb did not correlate with the clinical grading of CTS.