The value of power and pulsed Doppler in the diagnosis of CTS: Is a solution in sight

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of power and pulsed Doppler in diagnosis of CTS and compare it with median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) measured by gray-scale US and nerve conduction studies.Patients and methodsForty patients with definite clinical evidence of CTS and 20 healthy cases were enrolled in the study. All patients and controls underwent nerve conduction studies, gray-scale US (for measurement of CSA) and color Doppler (for assessment of vasomotor activity).ResultsTwenty eight patients (70%) had confirmed diagnosis by NCS while 12 patients (30%) were not detected by the NCS. The CSA ranged from 0.06 to 0.78 cm2 with a mean of 0.19 + 0.12. Comparison between patients and controls as regards CSA showed highly statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between patients and controls as regards PS, ED & PI. Also there was a significant correlation between median nerve hypervascularization and the parameters of spectral Doppler and the severity of CTS by NCS and also with CSA.ConclusionColor Doppler imaging of the median nerve is a readily accessible and practical method for determining the degree of vasomotor impairment in CTS patients that may be valuable in evaluation and follow up of CTS patients in clinical practice.