Utility of transcarpal motor studies in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of the clinical utility of transcarpal motor conduction to the 2nd Lumbrical muscle in the diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
IRAS ID
174971
Contact name
Adam L Pearson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
When the median nerve at the wrist becomes “pinched” this results in a wide range of signs and symptoms that are clinically diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel syndrome (CTS). Due to the variable nature of the symptoms in CTS nerve conduction studies (NCS) are used to help diagnose the condition by objectively testing the function of the nerve.
Applying a small electrical pulse on the skin stimulates the nerve producing a response that is recorded either over the nerve or indirectly from a muscle. Severity of the patient’s CTS symptoms normally determines the treatment necessary to halt the progression of the condition. NCS routinely performed for CTS diagnose that the nerve is pinched but do not determine the type of damage and therefore cannot guide treatment.
Mild damage responds adequately to conservative treatment with a splint, whereas more severe damage requires surgery to halt progression of symptoms and potential loss of muscle. A splint costs £15 whilst surgery is estimated to cost £450 and has associated recovery and rehabilitation time/costs. However, currently a high proportion of patients have surgery unnecessarily. The aim of this study is to validate a new NCS (recording from the 2nd lumbrical muscle instead of abductor pollicis brevis) by comparing it to existing tests for CTS and to see if the type of damage can be classified in order to guide the most effective treatment for the patient.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0033
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion