Turkish Neurosurgery 2012 , Vol 22 , Num 6
Quantitative MRI Analysis of Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Halil Kamil OGE1, Berat ACU2, Tacettin GUCER3, Tugra YANIK4, Safak SAVLARLI5, Mehmet Murat FIRAT5
1Ankara Guven Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Osman Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey
3Ankara Medicana Hospital, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ankara, Turkey
4Ankara Guven Hospital, Department of Neurology, Ankara, Turkey
5Ankara Guven Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.6646-12.0 AIM: The aim of this study was to try to find parametric ratios for the diagnosis and pathophysiology of carpal tunnel syndrome using MR.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Dominant side wrist MRI examinations of 27 female carpal tunnel patients and 21 normal females were compared. The carpal tunnel contents area / carpal tunnel cross section area ratio was defined, analysed and discussed with the literature.

RESULTS: Carpal tunnel contents / wrist area ratios of the carpal tunnel patients were measured and compared with the control group. This comparison revealed that the proportion of the contents of the carpal tunnel is increased in the carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Palmar bowing was found to be increased and median nerve cross section area was found to be increased at the proximal entrance of the carpal tunnel.

CONCLUSION: As Phalen has postulated, the volume of the contents of the carpal tunnel were found to be increased in the carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Carpal tunnel cross section areas remained the same with the control group. This increase can be demonstrated by MRI imaging which can provide an evidence for the pathophysiology of carpal tunnel syndrome. Keywords : Carpal tunnel syndrome, Area measurement, Ratio

Corresponding author : Halil Kamil Oge, koge59@gmail.com