COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IN MIDDLE-AGED PATIENTS

Аннотация

The study included 107 patients (60 women and 47 men) aged 35 to 60 years who presented with complaints of paresthesia, pain, and weakness in the hand. All participants underwent clinical tests (Phalen, Tinel, Durkan), electroneuromyography (ENMG), ultrasound (US) examination of the median nerve, and completed the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ). The results showed that the Phalen and Durkan tests demonstrated high sensitivity (85.0% and 82.2%, respectively), while the Tinel test showed moderate sensitivity (72.9%). Ultrasound revealed an increased cross-sectional area of the median nerve (>10 mm²) in most patients, which correlated with clinical symptoms and ENMG findings. These results confirm the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), especially in middle-aged individuals, and emphasize the need for early identification and confirmation of the diagnosis using a combination of clinical and instrumental methods.