EFFECT OF FINGER MOTION ON TRANSVERSE MEDIAN NERVE MOVEMENT IN THE CARPAL TUNNEL

Abstract

Introduction: We used ultrasonography (US) to investigate the effects of finger motion on movement of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the correlation between these US parameters and CTS severity. Methods: Ultrasonographic measures were performed in 23 control wrists and 22 CTS wrists in women. During first through third finger flexion and grip motion, median nerve movements were obtained using US and a tracing program. Results: Nerve movements during third finger flexion in the dorsopalmar axis and grip motion in both axes, and during second finger flexion in the radioulnar axis, differed significantly between the control and CTS groups. US parameters correlated negatively with cross-sectional area. Conclusions: This study shows that transverse median nerve movements decreased during grip using US and correlated negatively with CTS severity.