CARPAL-TUNNEL-SYNDROME - A CLINICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF220 CONSECUTIVE CASES AT KING-FAHD-HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY, AL-KHOBAR

Objectives: To study the clinical and electrophysiological profile of patients with clinically diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Setting: Neurology service at the K ing Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. P atients and methods: Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients (181 female, 39 male, mean age 37 and 44 years respectively), referred with a clinical diagnosis of CTS to the neurodiagnostic laboratories of KF HU between August 1991 and August 1995, formed the study group. They a ll had clinical evaluation and standardized nerve conduction studies ( 390 hands) performed by the same examiner. A control group of 64 norma l subjects (31 females, 33 males, mean age 37 and 43 years respectivel y) were concurrently studied. Results: Carpal tunnel syndrome was conf irmed in 265 hands (68%). The mean distal sensory peak latency (DSL) i n milliseconds (ms) +/- standard deviation (SD) was 4.61 +/- 1.54 ms ( 227 hands, 58.2%). The mean distal motor latency (DML) was 5.87 +/- 1. 5 ms (195 hands, 50%). In 38 hands (9.7%) no sensory responses were re cordable. Of these 4 hands (1%) had no motor responses as well. Sevent y four percent of the patients were below 45 years of age. The main pr esenting symptoms were numbness (88.7%), pain in the hands (69.8%) and weakness (35.5%). Sixty percent of the patients presented to hospital within one year of onset of symptoms. The frequency of associated con ditions was highest for diabetes mellitus in 13.1% of the patients. Co nclusions: The clinical and electrophysiological patterns of CTS in Sa udi Arabia are similar to those reported from developed countries.