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.
