Page 134 - Ebook-Book JCMS 2025

Ten Years of Insights: Electrodiagnostic Findings for Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome in Thailand
Chuenchom Chueluecha*, Peerada Kamsakul, Arisa Chindahporn, Nutthida Leelapattanaputichot, Sarocha
Ketphanich
Department of Rehabilitation medicine, Thammasat university
*Corresponding Author E-mail: puaichuenchom@hotmail.com
Background: Abstract
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common form of entrapment neuropathy. The
electrodiagnostic (EDx) study is the preferred investigative method; however, routine nerve
conduction studies (NCS) often lack the sensitivity needed for accurate detection. The
combined sensory index (CSI) improves detection rates but remains less understood
and underutilized. Presenting the results of the CSI and its detection rate could enhance
awareness and improve the effectiveness of EDx studies in diagnosing CTS.
Methods: In a study conducted at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, from 2012 to 2023, data
were collected from 220 CTS patients.
Results: The findings revealed that CTS predominantly affected female patients (83.64%), with an
average age of 53 years and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.63 kg/m². Among the patients,
76.26% experienced CTS in both hands, with a mean symptom duration of 11 months. The
primary sensory symptoms reported included numbness (80.91%) and pain (35.45%) in the
hands. Clinical signs such as Tinel’s sign and the Carpal Compression Test (Durkan’s test)
were observed in 57.73% and 37.73% of patients, respectively. EDx studies were performed
for diagnostic purposes in 59.09% of the patients. Among the 130 patients (representing
260 hands) who underwent EDx studies, 8.85% showed no electrodiagnostic evidence
of CTS. In contrast, 23.85%, 32.31%, and 24.23% exhibited mild, moderate, and severe
degrees of CTS, respectively. The CSI was conducted on 38 hands (14.62%), successfully
identifying CTS in 13 of 19 (68.42%) hands that had a distal sensory peak latency of less
than 4.0 msec on routine NCS.
Conclusion: Patients with CTS are typically female, middle-aged, and overweight, presenting symptoms
like hand numbness and pain. Diagnosis often relies on clinical evaluations, with only half
confirmed by electrodiagnostic testing. Utilizing the CSI can improve detection, diagnostic
accuracy, and enhancing patient outcomes.
132 Joint Conference in Medical Sciences 2025