The cross-sectional area of the median nerve by sonography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome
Main Article Content
Keywords
Median Nerve, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Hand
Abstract
Objective: to measure the median nerve cross-sectional area (MNCSA) at the carpal tunnel (CT) level by sonography (S) in a Mexican population.
Methods: a comparative cross-sectional design study with a non probabilistic sampling with 50 women and 50 men in good health were submitted for measuring MNCSA at the level of the CT. Other variables like sex; side and degree of daily hand activity were also studied. The analysis was made by descriptive statistics, and Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: the mean MNCSA was 0.063 ± 0.015 cm², in women; in men it was 0.072 ± 0.018 cm²; the difference was significant (p < 0.004). The median MNCSA among women was 0.062 cm² in the right side and 0.060 cm² in the left (percentile 90 for both hands of 0.084 cm²); in men, it was of 0.070 cm² in the right hand and of 0.069 cm² in the left (percentile 90 for both hands of 0.097 cm²). The difference between women and men was significant in each side, but not between right and left hands (p = 0.21). There was no correlation between age and MNCSA on either side, or with hand activity.
Conclusions: a MNCSA value of 0.1 cm² for men and 0.09 cm² for women is proposed as standard parameter for the Mexican population.
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