Neurophysiological classification of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical correlation of the neurophysiological scale of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The hands were classified in 6 grades: minimum/grade 1 (comparative test / altered short segment, normal sensitive and motor conductions), mild/grade 2 (altered sensitive conduction, normal motor conduction), moderate/grade 3 (altered sensitive and motor conductions, normal sensitive amplitude), moderate/grade 4 (altered sensitive and motor conductions, low sensitive amplitude), severe/grade 5 (absent sensitive conduction, altered motor conduction) and extremely severe/grade 6 (absent sensitive and motor conductions). A prospective study was carried out in 400 hands with CTS. 56 hands (14%) were classified as grade 1,109 hands (27.3%) as grade 2, 129 hands (32.3%) as grade 3, 78 hands (19.5%) as grade 4, 22 hands (5.5%) as grade 5 and 6 hands (1.5%) as grade 6. There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the neurophysiological scale of CTS and the patients’ ages, the duration of CTS, the frequency of reported classical CTS history and the frequency of night pain symptoms, paresthesia and numbness. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between the neurophysiological scale and the frequency of Tinel`s sign, hypoesthesia on the 2nd digit, weakness and hypotrophy of the thenar muscles.