High-resolution ultrasonography in carpal tunnel syndrome: role of ancillary criteria in diagnosis and response to steroid injection

Abstract

Objectives (1) Development and validation of a composite ultrasound score (cUSS) for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). (2) To predict treatment response after local corticosteroid injection. Methods Wrists of CTS patients and controls were evaluated with high-resolution ultrasound and cross-sectional area of median nerve at carpal tunnel inlet (CSAp) and outlet (CSAd) and bowing of flexor retinaculum (FRB), flexor tenosynovitis, and intraneural vascularity and echogenicity changes were noted. Patients were prospectively followed after ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection. Results We studied 479 wrists of 141 patients and 99 controls. Optimal cut-offs for diagnosing CTS were 9.5 mm² and 10.5 mm², respectively, for CSAp and CSAd. A cUSS consisting of the following parameters was developed: age, CSAp, CSAd, FRB, and flexor tenosynovitis and echogenicity changes. External validation of cUSS yielded sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of 91.7%, 87.1%, and 89.8%, respectively. Treatment responses from 88 injections (median duration of follow-up of 6 months) were available with satisfactory initial responses in 69.32% (61/88) and relapses in 30.86% (25/81). Median time to relapse was 2 months. Initial response was predicted by FRB (odds ratio (OR): 5.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45–20.3, p = 0.012). Relapse was predicted by age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.168, 95% CI: 1.076–1.268, p = 0.0002), male gender (HR: 8.1.02, 95% CI: 2.394–27.422, p = 0.0007), FRB, (HR: 46.982, 95% CI: 5.048–437.293, p = 0.0008), and higher body mass index (HR: 0.238, 95% CI: 0.064–0.892, p = 0.0332). Conclusions The developed cUSS has a diagnostic accuracy of 88% for diagnosing CTS. Ultrasound parameters could predict both initial treatment response and relapse. Key points • Anatomical ultrasound parameters in addition to nerve cross-sectional area is important for diagnosis of CTS. • A composite US score for diagnosis of CTS was developed with accuracy 88.6%. • Bowing of flexor retinaculum predicts short and long term response to local steroid injection.