ORTHODROMIC INCHING TEST IN MILD CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME

The Orthodromic inching test of the median nerve at wrist was performe d on the dominant wrist of 80 controls and of 100 patients with mild c arpal tunnel syndrome defined by the presence of clinical features and normal classical electrodiagnostic tests. In controls the mean conduc tion delay per centimeter (CD/cm) was 0.184ms and was slightly higher inside than outside the carpal tunnel; the maximal CD/cm (MCD/cm) was never greater than 0.34ms (mean 0.247). In patient the MCD/cm was 0.36 ms or more in 96 patients. This abnormality was located within the ca rpal tunnel in 92% of cases. Outside the entrapment site CD/cm values remained normal and similar to those found in the controls. On the who le, this results in an overall specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 96% for the Orthodromic inching test. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.