Hsiu-Yun Hsu1, Yao-Lung Kuo2, I-Ming Jou3, Fong-Chin Su4, Haw-Yen Chiu2, Li-Chieh Kuo5. 1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan. 2. Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 3. Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 5. Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: jkkuo@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how the severity levels revealed in a nerve conduction study (NCS) affect the results of the Manual Tactile Test (MTT) for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and to examine the relationships between the results of the MTT and precision pinch performance. DESIGN: Case-control studies. SETTING: Hospital and local community. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CTS (N=70) with 119 affected hands were studied. A control group matched by age, sex, and hand dominance was also recruited. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CTS severity was determined based on NCS findings. The MTT, traditional sensory tests, and precision pinch performance were used to examine the functional sensory status of the hand from different perspectives. RESULTS: The patients with CTS exhibited deterioration in all of the sensibility tests (P<.001). The results showed that the MTT could classify subgroups of severity in CTS (P<.001). A moderate correlation was found between the results of the MTT and precision pinch performance (r=.526-.585, P<.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the MTT results were useful indicators for predicting precision pinch performance and differentiating severity in subjects with CTS (r(2)=.376 and .323, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the MTT could be a valid and useful assessment for hand sensibility and prehensile pinch performance in patients with CTS.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how the severity levels revealed in a nerve conduction study (NCS) affect the results of the Manual Tactile Test (MTT) for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and to examine the relationships between the results of the MTT and precision pinch performance. DESIGN: Case-control studies. SETTING: Hospital and local community. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CTS (N=70) with 119 affected hands were studied. A control group matched by age, sex, and hand dominance was also recruited. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CTS severity was determined based on NCS findings. The MTT, traditional sensory tests, and precision pinch performance were used to examine the functional sensory status of the hand from different perspectives. RESULTS: The patients with CTS exhibited deterioration in all of the sensibility tests (P<.001). The results showed that the MTT could classify subgroups of severity in CTS (P<.001). A moderate correlation was found between the results of the MTT and precision pinch performance (r=.526-.585, P<.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the MTT results were useful indicators for predicting precision pinch performance and differentiating severity in subjects with CTS (r(2)=.376 and .323, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the MTT could be a valid and useful assessment for hand sensibility and prehensile pinch performance in patients with CTS.