Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the Clinic: A Questionnaire and Physical Assessment Versus a Portable Nerve Conduction Test Device

Abstract

Marnin Joseph Romm and Tejashree M Joshi

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between a clinical assessment questionnaire for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and a portable nerve conduction test device (Mediracer) in the diagnosis and severity of CTS symptoms.

Method: The research utilized a cross-sectional design including 100 subjects with CTS. A devised questionnaire assessing CTS symptomology and the Mediracer were administered to participants. Data regarding the severity of symptoms was analyzed using linear regression to compare the questionnaire with the device.

Results: A statistically significant correlation (p<0.05) was found between the diagnosis of CTS using the questionnaire and the Mediracer results. However, when divided into various subgroups, limited statistically significant correlations were found.

Conclusions: With a moderately large sample size of individuals with CTS, there appears to be a significant correlation between a clinical assessment using a questionnaire and the use of a portable nerve conduction device (Mediracer). To gain high CTS diagnostic accuracy, the current study showed it useful for health care professionals to utilise both of the above assessment tools

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