The Relation between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: An Electrophysiological Study

Entrapment of the median nerve; carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), is a common neuropathy that result from compression, ischemia or repetitive movement of the wrist. Ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE) frequency come after the median nerve syndrome, it occurs at the wrist and at the elbow. The neurological finding of median and ulnar nerves compression are presented as a sensory or motor or both. Aim of the study: To investigate the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE). Material and method: Fifty patients were included in this study suffering from CTS. The patients with the CTS diagnosis through; history taking, physical, clinical, and electrophysiological examination; the electrophysiological parameter (EPP) done for median and ulnar nerves for motor and sensory nerves; to study the distal motor and sensory latency (DML; DSL), motor and sensory nerve action potential (CMAP; SNAP), and the nerve conduction velocities (NCV); the EPP were done in Ibn-Sina Teaching Hospital (EMG Department); by using Neuropack EMG measuring system Nihoncodene (MEB-9400K); and Galileo NT Line (Nemus2). Result: The EPP demonstrates that; there is nearly no relation between CTS and UNE in this study;(not significant) this may be due to anatomical difference in the course of the median and ulnar nerves. It reveals a positive association between the duration of the disease and severity of CTS. It also shows there is no relation between, severity of the CTS and the body mass index (BMI); the electrophysiological study considered a strong corner stone in CTS diagnosis along with the clinical assessment.