Prevalence and Associated Factors of Slowed Forearm Median Motor and Sensory Conduction Velocity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Thai Patients

Authors

  • Chinapat Gerawarapong Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and relationship between the associated factors and slowed forearm median motor and sensory conduction velocity (FMMCV and FMSCV) in the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Methods: The study was conducted from June 2012 to March 2014. There was a total of 69 CTS hands (n = 38) and 13 non-CTS hands (n = 10) from 82 patients’ hands (n = 48). The slowed FMMCV and FMSCV were determined by less than 50 m/s. Demographic and clinical characteristics, FMMCV, FMSCV, and electrodiagnostic (EDX) findings related to the slowed FMMCV and FMSCV were compared and analyzed.
Results: The prevalence of slowed FMMCV in CTS was 31.6% and slowed FMSCV was 23.7%, respectively. Correlation between EDX parameters and slowed FMMCV were significantly correlated to the absence of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (p-value = 0.006). For the slowed FMSCV, the small sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude also demonstrated significant correlation (p-value < 0.001). Among FMMCV, the occurrence of retrograde axonal atrophy (RAA) with retrograde conduction slowing (RCS) was significantly associated with the slowed FMMCV (OR 2.100; 95% CI 0.434-3.766; p-value = 0.013). For FMSCV, an increase of small SNAP amplitudes was significantly associated with slowed FMSCV (OR 4.210; 95% CI 2.031-6.390; p-value < 0.001).
Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that slowed FMMCV is significantly ascribed to RAA with RCS and warrants further investigation into the role of the mechanism of slowed FMSCV in CTS. Furthermore, this study supports the findings of other studies that the damage to nerve function does not occur only in segments distal to the site of injury or compression.

Keywords: Forearm median motor conduction velocity, forearm median sensory conduction velocity, carpal tunnel syndrome, retrograde axonal atrophy, retrograde conduction slowing

Downloads

Published

05-07-2015

How to Cite

Gerawarapong, C. (2015). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Slowed Forearm Median Motor and Sensory Conduction Velocity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Thai Patients. Siriraj Medical Journal, 67(3). Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/article/view/55237

Issue

Vol. 67 No. 3 (2015): May-June

Section

Original Article

License

Users are free to share, copy, and redistribute all articles published in the Siriraj Medical Journal (SMJ) in any medium or format as long as you follow the following terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the material, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the publisher endorses you or your use.
  • NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  • NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.