Ultrasound as an outcome assessment tool in carpal tunnel syndrome release surgery in physically active adults

Chirurgia Narządów Ruchu i Ortopedia Polska · Published 2026-06-29 · DOI 10.31139/chnriop.2026.91.2.5

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Authors (6)

Agnieszka Blacha, Paweł Korolkiewicz, Agata Kreńska, Julia Maria Kuczkowska, Tomasz Mazurek, Justyna Napora

Abstract

<p>Background. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common neuropathies worldwide. Diagnosis&nbsp;is often reliant on clinical examination and history. The role of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for evaluating&nbsp;postoperative changes is still underutilised.<br />Aim. This study aimed to assess the use of ultrasound in measuring changes in the median nerve following&nbsp;carpal tunnel release (CTR).<br />Materials and methods. A prospective study involving 29 patients with clinically diagnosed CTS. Ultrasound&nbsp;examination was performed preoperatively and three months after CTR, assessing the cross-sectional&nbsp;area of the median nerve at the entrance of the carpal tunnel (CT) and the pronator quadratus muscle&nbsp;(PQ). Paired t-tests and two-way ANOVA were used to evaluate changes after CTR and across demographic&nbsp;variables.<br />Results. A significant reduction in the median nerve cross-sectional area was observed at the CT level&nbsp;(15.45 4.93 mm preoperatively vs 12.25 3.69 mm postoperatively; p &lt; 0.001), with an approximate 21%&nbsp;decrease. No significant change was observed at the PQ level (p = 0.097). The two-way ANOVA test showed<br />a significant effect of CTR at the CT (p = 0.011), with no significant effects of sex, age, physical activity, or&nbsp;affected side. No significant changes were observed at the PQ level.<br />Conclusions. Ultrasound is a useful tool for diagnosing and assessing postoperative changes in CTS,&nbsp;particularly at the carpal tunnel level. Changes distal to the compression site were inconsistent and of&nbsp;limited clinical value. Demographic factors did not significantly influence outcomes, suggesting a uniform&nbsp;response to CTR.</p>

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Publication details

Year
2026

Citation

Blacha, A., Korolkiewicz, P., Kreńska, A., et al. (2026). Ultrasound as an outcome assessment tool in carpal tunnel syndrome release surgery in physically active adults. Chirurgia Narządów Ruchu i Ortopedia Polska. https://doi.org/10.31139/chnriop.2026.91.2.5

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