Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Jun;17(4):187-9.
doi: 10.1097/CND.0000000000000114.

Frequency of Radiculopathy in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Paracervical Pain

Rocio Garcia-Santibanez  1 , Stephen N Scelsa
Affiliations

Frequency of Radiculopathy in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Paracervical Pain

Rocio Garcia-Santibanez et al. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and paracervical pain (PCP) are often incorrectly diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy. The objective of the study is to determine how frequently such patients have electrophysiologic evidence of radiculopathy.

Methods: We reviewed charts of patients with clinical features of CTS and at least 1 median nerve conduction parameter showing slowing across the wrist. Patients were divided into those with and without PCP. Radiculopathy was defined electrophysiologically. We assessed group differences in the frequency of radiculopathy and how radiculopathy frequency varied with median nerve entrapment severity.

Results: Of 108 patients meeting criteria, 56 had PCP and 52 did not. Eight of 56 patients with PCP and 4 of 52 without pain had cervical radiculopathy (P = 0.36). There was no difference in the frequency of radiculopathy related to the severity of median nerve entrapment (P = 0.64).

Discussion: In patients with CTS, PCP is not associated with cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculopathy is not more frequent in more severe CTS.

PubMed Disclaimer