Median nerve variation MRI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Normal variation in position and cross-sectional profile of the median nerve.
IRAS ID
230839
Contact name
Nimalan Sanmugalingam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Our anecdotal observation from reporting clinical MRI examinations of the wrist is that the position of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel may be highly variable. This variability also includes the relationship to neighbouring flexor tendons and the flexor retinaculum.
Previous published research has examined the anatomical variation of the median nerve and in particularly its branches in the wrist and hand and has led to a number of classification systems. There have been cadaveric studies looking at the median nerve in relation to the flexor retinaculum but these studies are limited in number. There is limited data looking at the anatomical variance on cross sectional imaging. We hypothesize that there is variation in its position within the canal and its relationship to adjacent structures that have not previously been described.
Accurately locating the variations in the position of the median nerve and its associating structures could lead the way in understanding those who are at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This could also provide better understanding for the surgeons regarding their approach to the carpal tunnel when performing a carpal tunnel release or other wrist operations.
The aim is to perform a retrospective cross-sectional study using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) cases from the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital PACS image archive. For each wrist the X-Y coordinate of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel will be recorded and its relation with neighbouring flexor tendons. Secondly we aim to calculate the prevalence of each variation that we encounter thus providing a distribution of the possible normal variances.
No patients would be required to be recruited to this study. There would be no intervention in the patients’ treatment. The research team consider this to be a low risk study.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0022
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion