Pressure measurement in carpal tunnel syndrome : correlation with electrodiagnostic and ultrasonographic findings.

OBJECTIVE This study was done to evaluate the correlation between carpal tunnel pressure (CTP), electrodiagnostic and ultrasonographic findings in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS CTP was measured during endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) for CTS using Spiegelberg ICP monitoring device with parenchymal type catheter. Neurophysiologic severity and nerve cross sectional area were evaluated using nerve conductive study and ultrasonography (USG) before ECTR in all patients. RESULTS Tests were performed in a total of 48 wrists in 39 patients (9 cases bilateral). Maximum CTP was 56.7 +/- 19.3 mmHg (Mean +/- SD) and 7.4 +/- 3.3 mmHg before and after ECTR, respectively. No correlation was found between maximum CTP and either neurophysiologic severity or nerve cross sectional area, whereas we found a significant correlation between the latter two parameters. CONCLUSION CTP was not correlated with neurophysiologic severity and nerve cross sectional area. Dynamic, rather than static, pressure in carpal tunnel might account for the basic pathophysiology of CTS better.