The controversy of the normal values of ultrasonography in carpal tunnel syndrome: diagnostic accuracy of wrist-dependent CSA revisited

Abstract

Introduction: No consensus exists about the upper limit of normal (ULN) of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Previously, we demonstrated a strong positive correlation between wrist circumference and CSA. ULN depending on wrist circumference turned out to have a low sensitivity, which was hypothesized to be caused by an age mismatch. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the found invariance by augmentation of the healthy control group, adding older subjects, and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the updated normal values.

Methods: CSA and wrist circumference were measured in an additional 42 healthy controls in the ages of 40-60. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were applied to determine predicting factors for CSA. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed in a prospective cohort of 253 patients.

Results: A strong correlation was found between wrist circumference and CSA (r = 0.61). Wrist circumference is the most important independent predictor for ULN (r² = 0.37). We managed to simplify our newly derived regression equations, which turned out to be unrelated to age. Sensitivity of our new equations is low, but higher than a general fixed cut-off value (53.4% and 47.4%, respectively).

Discussion: Wrist circumference is the most important independent predicting factor of CSA. By using our updated equations and taking wrist circumference into account, one can determine a more precise ULN for each individual, which will lead to the improvement of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US). Sensitivity for US in diagnosing CTS remains low and it can therefore not replace EDX.

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Cross-sectional area; Diagnosis; Normal values; Ultrasonography; Wrist circumference.