Electroneuromyography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

The review is devoted to modern methods of electrophysiologicalevaluation of median nerve damage in the carpal tunnel (theso-called carpal tunnel syndrome, CTS) which is the most frequentlydiagnosed form of compression neuropathy of the upperextremities. Specificity and sensitivity of different methods ofelectromyography (EMG) in diagnostics of the disease, as well asin determining subclinical patterns of nerve involvement andindications for optimal treatment choice are demonstrated.EMG criteria of the CTS severity are provided. A protocol ofEMG evaluation of patients suspected for CTS, based on mostsensitive methods, is presented. The need of comprehensiveelectrophysiological evaluation of patients with median nervelesions is shown, with special attention to exclusion of hereditaryneuropathy. Problems of differential and false-positive diagnosisof CTS are considered.

Keywords

• carpal tunnel syndrome
• electromyography
• diagnosis