A Clinical and Electrophysiologic Study of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

수근관 증후군의 임상 및 전기신경생리 소견

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist. An Electrophysiologic study has been widely used for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The subjects of this study were 48 cases (88 hands) with clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent electrodiagnostic examination from Jan 1, 2001 to Sep 30, 2001, The results were as follows: 1. Among 48 persons with a clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome, 40 patients were female 83.33$\%$ and the patients who are above 60 years old were 37.50$\%$. 2. Electrodiagnostic results were 22 cases (45.84$\%$) with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and 10 cases (20.83$\%$) with normal. 3. Physical findings consisted of tingling sensation in 48.86$\%$ of the involved hands, positive Phalen's Sign in 20.46$\%$ of them, thenar atrophy in 15.91$\%$ of them, and weakness in 14.77$\%$ of them. 4. Electrophysiologic studies showed a decreased sensory conduction velocity in 20 cases (22.73$\%$) of total hands, a prolonged latency in 3 cases (3.41$\%$) of them, abnormal sensory and motor fiber in 33 cases (37.50$\%$) of them, and normal in 27 cases (30.68$\%$) of them. Considering above results, we had better make a diagnosis precisely the patients with clinically suspected carpal tunnel syndrome through subjective symtoms, physical examinations, and electrophysiologic studies.