Transverse Ultrasound Assessment of the Displacement of the Median Nerve in the Carpal Tunnel during Wrist and Finger Motion in Healthy Volunteers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the displacement of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel during finger motion at varied wrist positions using transverse ultrasound in healthy volunteers, in order to clarify the appropriate position of a wrist splint in treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: Fifty wrists of 25 asymptomatic volunteers were evaluated by transverse ultrasound. The location of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel was examined at 5 wrist positions (neutral, 60° dorsiflexion, 60° palmar flexion, 40° ulnar flexion, 10° radial flexion) with all 5 fingers in full extension, all 5 fingers in full flexion, and isolated thumb in full flexion, respectively.

Results: The median nerve was located significantly (p<0.05) more dorsally at the wrist dorsal flexion position, more ulnopalmarly at the wrist palmar flexion position, more radially at the wrist radial flexion position, and more radially at the wrist ulnar flexion position than at the wrist neutral position in all 5 fingers at full extension. The median nerve moved the most significantly dorsally among all wrist positions during finger motion at the wrist dorsal flexion position (p<0.05). Conversely, the median nerve moved the most significantly ulnopalmarly at the wrist palmar flexion position with all 5 fingers in full flexion among all wrist positions during finger motion (p<0.05). This latter wrist and finger position induced significant displacement of the median nerve toward the transverse carpal ligament, and compressed it between the flexor tendons and the transverse carpal ligament.

Conclusions: This study showed that there is a significant relationship between the median nerve displacement in the carpal tunnel and the motion of the wrist and fingers. This finding suggests that the compression or the shearing stress of the median nerve caused by the movement of the flexor tendons is reduced in the wrist dorsal flexion position compared with other wrist positions. This wrist dorsal flexion position could be the appropriate position for a wrist splint in the treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. This ultrasound information provides further knowledge and understanding of the biomechanics and pathophysiology of the carpal tunnel. It could also help in the accurate analysis and assessment of diagnostic images and treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.