A Novel Ultrasonographic Anthropometric-Independent Measurement of Median Nerve Swelling in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The “Nerve/Tendon Ratio” (NTR)

• Published in: Diagnostics
• Main Authors: Falsetti, Paolo, Conticini, Edoardo, Baldi, Caterina, D’Ignazio, Emilio, Al Khayyat, Suhel Gabriele, Bardelli, Marco, Gentileschi, Stefano, D’Alessandro, Roberto, D’Alessandro, Miriana, Acciai, Caterina, Ginanneschi, Federica, Cantarini, Luca, Frediani, Bruno
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: Article; DML
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9689936/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36359465; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12112621

Background: There is little consensus on ultrasound (US) normative values of cross-sectional area of median nerve (MN-CSA) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) because of its dependency on anthropometric parameters. We aim to propose a novel anthropometric-independent US parameter: MN-CSA/flexor radialis carpi CSA (FCR-CSA) ratio (“Nerve Tendon Ratio”, NTR), in the diagnosis of clinically and electrodiagnostic (EDS)-defined CTS. Methods: 74 wrists of 49 patients with clinically defined CTS underwent EDS (scored by the 1–5 Padua Scale of electrophysiological severity, PS) and US of carpal tunnel with measurement of MN-CSA (at the carpal tunnel inlet), FCR-CSA (over scaphoid tubercle) and its ratio (NTR, expressed as a percentage). US normality values and intra-operator agreement were assessed in 33 healthy volunteers. Results: In controls, the mean MN-CSA was 5.81 mm(2), NTR 64.2%. In 74 clinical CTS, the mean MN-CSA was 12.1 mm(2), NTR 117%. In severe CTS (PS > 3), the mean MN-CSA was 15.9 mm(2), NTR 148%. In CTS, both MN-CSA and NTR correlated with sensitive conduction velocity (SCV) (p < 0.001), distal motor latency (DML) (p < 0.001) and PS (p < 0.001), with a slight superiority of NTR vs. MN-CSA when controlled for height, wrist circumference and weight. In CTS filtered for anthropometric extremes, only NTR maintained a correlation with SCV (p = 0.023), DML (p = 0.016) and PS (p = 0.009). Diagnostic cut-offs were obtained with a binomial regression analysis. In those patients with a clinical diagnosis of CTS, the cut-off of MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.983) was 8 mm(2) (9 mm(2) with highest positive predictive value, PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.987), the cut-off was 83% (100% with highest PPV). In patients with EDS findings of severe CTS (PS > 3), the MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.876) cut-off was 12.3 mm(2) (15.3 mm(2) with highest PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.858) it was 116.2% (146.0% with highest PPV). Conclusions: NTR can be simply and quickly calculated, and it can be used in anthropometric extremes.