The effect of temperature on nerve conduction parameters in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Correction factors exist to allow for the dramatic effect that temperature has on nerve conduction study parameters. However, these are based on normal nerves in normal individuals and may not be appropriate in the diseased nerve setting. Our clinical study showed that in carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve reacts differently to temperature changes compared with normal ulnar controls. Furthermore, statistically significant differences exist between the rates of change with increasing temperature in motor and sensory nerves.