The Carpal compression Test for Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Kim, Ik Dong; Kim, Poong Taek; Park, Byung Jun

Abstract

he carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common perripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. Many tests have been used for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. A new test, called the instrumented carpal tunnel and the Tinel percussion test, the Phalen wrist-flexion test, tourniquet test, and the trodiagnostically proved carpal tunnel syndrome and in a group of 49 patients(79 hands) during the period from October 1994 to July 1995. The results were as follows; 1. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy results of each provocative test were 53%, 88%, 70% on Tinel test, 72%, 66%, 69% on tourniquet test, 62%, 91%, 76% on Phalen test, 85%, 95%, 90% on the instrumented carpal compression test. 2. For the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, the instrumented carpal compression test was found to be the most sensitive, specific and accuracy results. 3. As a results, the new, instrumented carpal compression test with Durkan's CTS gauge was thought to be the most useful provocative diagnostic method & a simple, rapid & inexpensive technique for screening for carpal tunnel syndrome, and consisted of lightweight device.