Sensory Conduction Along The Fourth Finger in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Although diagnosis of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is made clinically, electrodiagnosis is necessary for differential diagnosis. The most reliable method is the sensory nerve conduction study. Pure median nerve-innervated thumb (D1) and digit (D3) are generally used and these are compared with ulnarinnervated digit (D5). Distal motor latencies from wrist to abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB) and abductor digit minimi muscle (ADM) are also determined (1). On the other hand, the distal two phalanges of the ring finger (D4) are innervated by both median and ulnar nerves. Sensory conduction along this finger provides evaluation of function of both nerves simultaneously. This might shorten the electrophysiological study for CTS. The purpose of this study to determine the value of sensory conduction along ring finger in the diagnosis of CTS.

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