Few studies have compared the unaffected and affected sides in the same carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients using ultrasonography and electrophysiological tests. We focused on unilateral idiopathic CTS patients to investigate whether clinical test results differ between the unaffected and affected sides. The bilateral wrist joints of 61 unilateral idiopathic CTS patients were evaluated. The median nerve cross-sectional area of ultrasound image, and latencies of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) were measured. The values obtained were compared between the affected and unaffected sides. The diagnostic accuracies of each parameter were assessed, and cut-off values were defined. Significant differences were observed in all parameters between the affected and unaffected sides (p < 0.01). Area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.74, 0.88, and 0.73 for the cross-sectional area, CMAP distal latency, and SNAP distal latency, respectively. Cut-off values were 11.9 mm2, 5.1 ms, and 3.1 ms for the cross-sectional area, CMAP distal latency, and SNAP distal latency, respectively. The most reliable parameter that reflected clinical symptoms was the distal latency of CMAP. Cut-off values for each parameter are considered to be an index for the onset of the clinical symptoms of CTS.
Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome; median nerve; nerve conduction study; ultrasound.