Enhancing diagnostic accuracy in carpal tunnel syndrome: integrating the median-ulnar F-wave latency differentials with symptom severity score and katz hand diagram.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41090002.
- Also identified by DOI 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_270_25 and PMC identifier 12517627.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-SA.
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Abstract
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent entrapment neuropathy, often requiring objective electrodiagnostic confirmation. While standard nerve conduction studies (NCSs) are widely used, the median-ulnar F-wave latency difference (FWLD) presents a sensitive alternative for early CTS detection. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of FWLD in correlation with the Katz Hand Diagram symptom classifications. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 65 patients (130 hands) presenting with CTS symptoms. All participants underwent detailed clinical assessments using the Katz Hand Diagram and were categorized into "classic," "probable," or "unlikely" CTS classifications. Standard NCS and F-wave studies were performed, measuring median and ulnar F-wave latencies to compute FWLD. A median-ulnar F-wave latency difference >0.7 ms was significantly associated with CTS diagnosis (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The sensitivity was 75.47%, and the specificity was 50%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 86.96%.