Entrapment neuropathies

Abstract

Relative frequency of entrapment neuropathies was studied from amongst the patients referred to an electrodiagnostic medicine laboratory for electrophysiological studies. During the study period electrophysiological procedures were done on 650 patients with various peripheral nerve disorders. The entrapment neuropathies constituted 8.5%. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was the commonest entrapment neuropathy (83.6%). Diagnosis of CTS was established in 84 Patients referred with the diagnosis of CTS. Electrophysiological tests confirmed the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome in 4 (15.4%) of the 26 patients referred with this diagnosis and in 5 (19.3%) of them the diagnosis turned out to be CTS. Diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome was not suspected clinically in all the 3 patients, they were referred with the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy. In both the patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome the initial diagnosis was peripheral neuropathy.