[ ISSN : 2576-5442 ]
Median nerve; Ultrasonography; Cut off value; Carpal tunnel syndrome
Objective:
To assess the usefulness of superficial ultrasonography of median nerve in accurate differentiation between neuropathic nerve and normal nerve measurement in Egyptian population.
Material and Methods:
The study was conducted on thirty patients with CTS; twelve males and eighteen females with mean age 43.93±4.51 (range 35-52y), and another thirty normal subjects; fifteen males and fifteen females, with their mean age 36.7±4.86 (range 29-45y). The Cross Sectional Area (CSA) and Flattening Ratio (FR) at different levels on both groups. Data from the study and control groups were compared. The accuracy of the ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria for CTS was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis.
Results:
All measurements showed significant differences between CTS and normal groups except the CSA at pronator quadrates. Using the ROC curve, a cutoff value of CSA >10 mm2 at the level of pisiform and CSA difference > 1 between pisiform and pronator quadrates provided a 100% specificity and high overall diagnostic accuracy 98.89%.
Conclusion:
The sonographic cutoff values of the median nerve dimensions in Egyptian population could yield an accurate differentiation between neuropathic and normal median nerve.
Median Nerve (MN) is one of the important nerves in the upper limb that originate from the brachial plexus; it travels down through the arm and the forearm until it reach the wrist, where it passes deep to the flexor retinaculum into the carpal tunnel, closer to the transverse carpal ligament than the flexor tendons. Median nerve divides into its terminal motor and sensory branches just above the carpal tunnel. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common nerve entrapment syndromes encountered clinically. It affects about 1% of the general population, and mostly seen in persons whose work requires repetitive wrist motion [1]. The carpal tunnel is a narrow unyielding space, therefore; any increase in the compartment pressure can contribute in pathogenesis of CTS [2]. Compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel leads to its enlargement which could be expressed as increased Cross-Sectional Area (CSA) [3]. Many studies reported that the increase in the CSA of the median nerve is a significant criterion in the diagnosis of CTS [4-6]. Ultrasonography is generally considered as a convenient non-invasive diagnostic tool having wide availability, rapid performance, and cost effectiveness as compared to other imaging tools used in CTS [7]. Ultrasonography in musculoskeletal system is a growing field used for diagnosis of many musculoskeletal disorders, CTS could be one of these disorders, in which median nerve enlargement at or just proximal to the carpal tunnel was described as characteristic sonographic finding [8,9]. Normally, the median nerve dimensions may be slightly larger at the most distal region, but does not vary greatly throughout its entire length. There is no consensus on the cutoff value that differentiating the normal from neuropathic nerves, most studies conclude a cutoff value ranging from 9mm2 to 12mm2 [10,11].
The current study was conducted in Minia University hospital during the period from April 2016 to December 2016 after being approved by the ethical committee of our institution. Thirty patients diagnosed as CTS were referred from the orthopedic clinic and included in the study as a study group; their diagnosis was based on clinical assessment& confirmed by pathological changes in electrophysiological nerve conduction. There was no past history of chronic illness, renal dialysis or diabetes.
Clinical assessment was done by (AFABA), included Phalen’s and Tinel’s tests at the carpal tunnel, determination of sensory affection, a pinch and grip strength test, and cervical spine neurological examination. The clinical diagnosis was done when positive Phalen’s and Tinel’s tests in absence of cervical radiculopathy along C6 & C7 roots. Another thirty healthy asymptomatic persons were included in this study as a control group. Exclusion criteria were: presence of bifid median nerve, presence of mass lesions in the carpal tunnel area including ganglion cysts and neurogenic tumors, and persistent median artery. A written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to participating in the study.
The number of patients required in the study was determined according to data obtained from pilot study. A sample size of 30 persons in each group was determined to provide 99% power for two-tail ‘t’ test at the level of 0.05 significance using G Power 3.1 9.2 software. All recruited subjects were subjected to Real-time superficial ultrasound examination using Toshiba medical system machine (Xario 200) using linear array transducer and high frequency 12 MHz for estimation of CSA of the median nerve at the level of pronator quadrates muscle and pisiform bone, the study utilized the trace method, for accurate delineation of the CSA (Figure 1 and 2).
Figure 1: Cross sectional area calculation of the median nerve at the level of pisiform bone.
Figure 2: Cross sectional area calculation of the median nerveat the level of pronator quadratus muscle
Subtraction of the CSA at both levels was done to obtain the mathematical difference. AP and transverse diameters of the median nerve at the level of hamates bone were measured in order to calculate the Flattening Ratio (FR) by dividing transverse diameter by AP diameter (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Measurement of AP and transverse diameters of median nerveat the level of hamate bone.
Dominant and non-dominant sides were examined in the control group, whereas the affected wrist in patients with CTS was examined. Results of ultrasonography were recorded, tabulated and statistically analyzed. Descriptive statistics were done for all participants; the data were represented as range, means ± Standard Deviations (SD). Comparison between different groups was done using student’s t-test and Mann Whitney test where appropriate using SPSS-20. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Inter-rater reliability was assessed and interclass correlation coefficients were obtained.
The study group included twelve males and eighteen females with mean age 43.93±4.51 (range 35-52y), whereas the normal subjects were fifteen males and fifteen females, with their mean age 36.7±4.86 (range 29-45y). The descriptive statistics of MN dimensions in normal subjects showed statistically insignificant difference between the dominant and non-dominant hands (Table 1).
Table 1: Shows values of MN CSA at pronator quadratus and pisiform boneand the difference in CSA between both levels, and the flattening ratio at hamate level, in dominant and non-dominant sides in normal individuals.
- (1) Independent sample t test for parametric quantitative data between the two groups
- (2) Mann Whitney test for non-parametric quantitative data between the two groups
- CSA: Cross Sectional Area, PQ: Pronator Quadratus Muscle, PS: Pisiform Bone.
Accordingly, the data form dominant and non-dominant sides in normal individuals were merged into one group containing sixty wrists, then; their values were compared with the study group (Table 2). There was statistically significant difference between all values among both groups expect the CSA area at pronator quadratus muscle.
Table 2: Shows comparison between the normal individuals (sixty wrists) and patients with CTS in MN descriptive dimensions and values.
- (1) Independent sample t test for parametric quantitative data between the two groups
- (2) Mann Whitney test for non-parametric quantitative data between the two groups.
- *: significant difference at p value < 0.05
- CSA: cross sectional area, PQ: pronator quadratus muscle, PS: pisiform bone.
The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to find out the value of MN variables obtaining maximum sensitivity and specificity. The continuous measurement scale in the current study results in different values and corresponding sensitivity and specificity, a summary of their relationship is shown in a ROC curve graph (Figure 4). Using this graph, an optimal cutoff point is used for determination of normal MN dimensions from neuropathic MN (Table 3).
Table 3: Shows Area under the Curve (AUC), optimal cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity, identified normal MN from neuropathic MN with overall accuracy using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) method.
Figure 4: Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) graph showing sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve for MN variables.
In the current study, the authors chose the studied parameters to be objective and easily applicable for the purpose of procedure reproducibility, the parameters did not need special technique or high experience to be performed, the measurement of the MN was obtained from axial plane only with the transducer placed perpendicular on the distal forearm and the wrist. The entrapment of the MN occurs between the transverse carpal ligament and carpal bones, with subsequent CSA enlargement which occurs at the level of proximal carpal tunnel (the level of pisiform); the MN size appears to be not affected at more proximal level above the carpal tunnel (the level of pronator quadratus).
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no consensus on cutoff values between normal MN dimensions and neuropathic ones, most of the published studies suggested a range cutoff value of CSA at pisiform from 9 to 12mm2 [11].
The current study showed statistically significant difference between study and control groups in CSA of the MN at pisiform bone. Many studies were in the same line with this result; Klauser et al. [12] studied CSA of the MN among normal and CTS patients and found that, the mean CSA at PS was 9.0± 1.5 in the healthy volunteers, and 16.8 ± 5.8 in the patients with CTS and (P < 0.001). Buchberger et al.
[13] also found the mean CSA was higher (14.5 mm2 ) in CTS patients compared with (7.9 mm2 ) in the healthy control group. Also, Duncan et al. [14] found that the mean CSA of the MN at proximal carpal tunnel in CTS patients and healthy control group were 12.7mm2 and 7mm2 , respectively. Furthermore Yesildag et al. [15] examined one hundred and forty-eight wrists of 86 patients with CTS and 76 wrists of 45 normal patients; they reported that the mean CSA was 14.9±4.7 in CTS patients and7.8±1.6 in normal control group.
The mean difference between CSA at PQ and at PS (PS-PQ) in the current study was 0.58±0.49 in healthy group, and 4.8±2.29 in CTS patients (P< 0.001), using cutoff value >1 there was high specificity 100% and overall accuracy 98.89%.
This result is in agreement to Klauser et al., [12] who assessed the CSA difference between the pisiform level and the pronator quadraus level and found that, the mean difference between PS-PQ was 0.25±0.43 in the healthy volunteer, and 7.4±5.6 in the CTS group (P10mm2 yielded high specificity 100% and overall accuracy 98.89%. This is in agreement with Ziswiler et al. [19] who utilized cutoff value of 10 mm2 at pisiform and achieved sensitivity (82%) and specificity (87%), Other studies showed variable cutoff values, Yesildag et al. [15] reported that the suggested cutoff point of CSA at pisiform using ROC analyses was 10.5 mm2 , with sensitivity and specificity found were 89% and 93% respectively. Kang et al. [20] derived a cutoff value of 9.5 mm2 for CSA and achieved sensitivity of 96.4% and specificity of 92.1%.Chen et al. [21] who reported that the mean CSA of CTS at PS was 14.0±4.3, used higher cutoff value = 12.5.
According to the results of this study we concluded that: The sonographic cutoff values of the median nerve dimensions in Egyptian population could yield an accurate differentiation between neuropathic and normal median nerve using cutoff value of CSA >10 mm2 at the level of pisiform and CSA difference > 1.Meta-analysis of all published studies in different populations is recommended to get a consensus on a universal cut off values.
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6. Buchberger W. Radiologic imaging of the carpal tunnel. Eur J Radiol. 1997; 25:112-117.
Allam MFAB, Allam AFAB and Elian MMM. Cut off Values of Median Nerve Dimensions in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Egyptian Population. Sonographic Comparison with Normative Values. SM Musculoskelet Disord. 2017; 2(2): 1013.
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