Best Practice Case Studies-Ultrasound Consult carpal tunnel Ultrasound

Ultrasound Consult carpal tunnel Ultrasound

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Video Summary

Britt Moore discusses using ultrasound to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, a common nerve entrapment typically identified by electrodiagnostic tests. Ultrasound is becoming popular due to its reliability. Key indicators include a swollen median nerve, loss of fascicular structure, and increased cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet. Moore suggests comparing nerve size between the carpal tunnel inlet and the pronator quadratus level. A cutoff of 10-12 mm² or a difference of ≥2 mm² indicates carpal tunnel syndrome. Including assessments of thenar muscle atrophy helps determine the severity. Ultrasound-guided steroid injections can confirm diagnoses when other tests are inconclusive.

Meta Tag

Edition 3rd Edition

Related Case 3rd Edition, CASE 58

Topic Wrist

Keywords

3rd Edition, CASE 58

3rd Edition

Wrist

ultrasound

carpal tunnel syndrome

median nerve

diagnosis

steroid injections