Short-latency afferent inhibition in unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) alters sensory afferent input and may affect cortical sensorimotor processing. We investigated short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and its relationship with fine motor performance in 25 patients with unilateral mild-to-moderate CTS. SAI was assessed using individualized interstimulus intervals based on N20 latency. SAI did not differ between the affected and unaffected sides (p = .539). However, higher SAI values, indicating less inhibition, were associated with poorer fine motor performance, with longer Nine-Hole Peg Test completion times on the affected side (p = .042). These findings suggest that individual variation in afferent inhibition may be related to fine motor hand function in CTS.