Comparison of early postoperative period electrophysiological and clinical findings following carpal tunnel syndrome: is EMG necessary?

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical findings and ENMG results of the patients who underwent surgery due to CTS, in the preoperative and early postoperative period. METHODS: 33 wrists of 29 patients who underwent open carpal tunnel surgery in our clinic due to CTS, between 2009 and 2011, were evaluated. Electrophysiological progress was evaluated with ENMG and clinical state with Boston scale. RESULTS: A significant decrease was observed in the postoperative BS symptomatic (SSS) and functional (FSS) scores of patients as compared to preoperative period (P=0.00), In the electrophysiological findings, statistically significant improvement was observed in all groups but very severe CTS group (P<0.05). When preoperative and postoperative EMG findings were compared, changes in DSL and DSA values were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was seen between DML (P=0.085) and DMA (P=246) values on the 3rd month. When an examination was conducted on the patients whose DML and DSL values could not be obtained in the preoperative EMG, DML values were obtained in the early postoperative period in 6 of 7 cases (85.71% P<0.001), and DSL values were obtained in 17 of 24 cases (70.8% P<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Sensory nerve findings were more significant, showed faster recovery compared to motor nerve findings, and accompanied the clinical recovery. Performance of an EMG test, especially on sensory nerves, will be more effective in patients selected in the early period, with the exception of patients with very severe CTS.

Comparison of early postoperative period electrophysiological and clinical findings following carpal tunnel syndrome: is EMG necessary?

UNLABELLED: In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical findings and ENMG results of the patients who underwent surgery due to CTS, in the preoperative and early postoperative period. METHODS: 33 wrists of 29 patients who underwent open carpal tunnel surgery in our clinic due to CTS, between 2009 and 2011, were evaluated. Electrophysiological progress was evaluated with ENMG and clinical state with Boston scale. RESULTS: A significant decrease was observed in the postoperative BS symptomatic (SSS) and functional (FSS) scores of patients as compared to preoperative period (P=0.00). In the electrophysiological findings, statistically significant improvement was observed in all groups but very severe CTS group (P<0.05). When preoperative and postoperative EMG findings were compared, changes in DSL and DSA values were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was seen between DML (P=0.085) and DMA (P=246) values on the 3rd month. When an examination was conducted on the patients whose DML and DSL values could not be obtained in the preoperative EMG, DML values were obtained in the early postoperative period in 6 of 7 cases (85.71%, P<0.001), and DSL values were obtained in 17 of 24 cases (70.8%, P<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Sensory nerve findings were more significant, showed faster recovery compared to motor nerve findings, and accompanied the clinical recovery. Performance of an EMG test, especially on sensory nerves, will be more effective in patients selected in the early period, with the exception of patients with very severe CTS.

Fatigue and correlation with disease-specific variables, spinal mobility measures, and health-related quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate fatigue in Turkish patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its relationship with disease-specific variables, spinal mobility measures, and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). METHODS: One hundred and ten patients diagnosed as AS according to the Modified New York Criteria and 40 healthy individuals were included in this study. The Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) was used in patient and control groups to assess fatigue. The first item of Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was also used to assess fatigue in the patient group. Evaluation included BASDAI, functional status [BAS Functional Index (BASFI)], and visual analog scale (VAS) of axial and joint pain. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured. The generic instrument Short Form 36 (SF 36) was used to assess HR-QoL in the patient group. RESULTS: Patients with AS had higher total MAF scores and in all MAF subgroup scales than controls. All patient MAF scores were significantly correlated with morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, history of peripheral arthritis, BASDAI, BASFI, BASDAI-fatigue, VAS axial, VAS peripheral, and SF 36 subgroups (p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between all MAF scores and age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, meteorological measures, and medications in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AS defined significantly more fatigue when compared with healthy persons. MAF was related to clinical and functional status and HR-QoL of patients with AS. We assume that MAF can be used as a sensitive fatigue measure in patients with AS.