Purpose
Assess the efficiency of US compared to MRI (standard) in the assessment and diagnosis of the possible etiology of nerve entrapment in the osteofibrous tunnels of the upper extremity.
Methods and materials
This study included forty patients; 28 females,
12 males with age range from 27 to 63 years (mean age 47 years).
Thirty three patients were complaining of chronic refractory unexplained wrist pain,
three patients were complaining of medial elbow pain,
sensory symptoms in the ring and little fingers,
three patients were complaining of pain in the posterior aspect of the shoulder,
one patient was complaining of sensory deficits over the ulnar portion of the palm and wasting of the hypothenar eminence.
Patients were subjected to...
Results
All the cases included in the study presented by pain,
65% of cases had paresthesia in addition,
15% showed muscle wasting while 82.5% of the studied cases were diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome as shown in table 1.
Table (1): Distribution of the studied cases as regards the presenting symptoms
%
No
Variables
100%
40
Pain
65%
26
Paresthesia
15%
6
Muscle wasting
60%
40%
24
16
Side
Right
Left
82.5%
7.5%
7.5%
2.5%
33
3
3
1
Site
Carpal tunnel
Cubital
Suprascapular
Guyon’s
Regarding...
Conclusion
Discussion: Musculoskeletal ultrasound in comparison to the MRI is a reliable,
noninvasive,
bed side and inexpensive method that can investigate the peripheral nerves in the osteofibrous tunnels in the upper extremity as a possible site of nerve entrapment and can give a clue to the etiology of the entrapment.
Ultrasound criteria for diagnosing nerve entrapment in the osteofibrous tunnels at the upper extremity which were coinciding with those used by Bianchi and Martinoli,
(2007):
· Common features:
- Echo textural changes where the compressed nerve...
References
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David WC,
Doris B,
et al. (2006) Peripheral Neuropathies of the Median,
Radial,
and Ulnar Nerves: MR Imaging Features.
RadioGraphics; 26:1267–1287.
2.Martinoli C,
Bianchi S,
et al. (2007) Ultrasound of the musculoskeletal system.
3.Rodrigues MB and Rosenberg ZS.
(2004) MR imaging of entrapment neuropathies at the elbow.
Clin N Am,
Magn Reson Imaging;12:247-63
4.Deniz FE,
et al. Comparison of the diagnostic utility of Electromyography,
Ultrasonography,
Computed Tomography,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome determined by clinical findings; Neurosurgery Publish Ahead of...