Transcarpal motor conduction velocity in carpal tunnel syndrome

• Published in: Muscle & nerve Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 966 - 968
• Main Authors: Walters, R. Jon L., Murray, Nicholas M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2001; Wiley
• Subjects: 2nd lumbrical-interosseous latency difference; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; carpal tunnel syndrome; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - diagnosis; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - physiopathology; distal motor latency (DML); Electrodiagnosis - methods; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; median nerve; Median Nerve - cytology; Median Nerve - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Motor Neurons - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Nervous system; Neural Conduction; Neurons, Afferent - physiology; Reaction Time; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ulnar Nerve - cytology; Ulnar Nerve - physiology; Human; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Nerve conduction; Electrodiagnosis; Nervous system diseases; Compression; Sensitivity; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Motor nerve; Peripheral nerve disease; Conduction velocity
• ISSN: 0148-639X; 1097-4598
• DOI: 10.1002/mus.1096

Transcarpal motor conduction to abductor pollicis brevis (APB) was evaluated in 43 patients (70 hands) with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Transcarpal motor conduction was abnormal in 80% of hands compared with 11.5% with prolongated distal motor latency from wrist stimulation. Transcarpal motor conduction was comparable in sensitivity with transcarpal sensory conduction and 2nd lumbrical–interosseous latency difference. Transcarpal motor conduction is a sensitive test for diagnosis of CTS. Sensory fibers were no more susceptible than motor fibers to compression in the carpal tunnel, and fibers to APB were as susceptible as those to the 2nd lumbrical muscle. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 966–968, 2001