Low sensitivity of F-wave in the electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Issue 2 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mondelli, Mauro; Aretini, Alessandro
• Is Part Of: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology. Volume 25:Issue 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 252
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Electromyography -- Periodicals; Kinesiology -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Movement -- physiology -- Periodicals; Muscles -- physiology -- Periodicals; Électromyographie -- Périodiques; Cinésiologie -- Périodiques; Electromyography; Kinesiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.740757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-6411

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="ab005"> <title id="st090">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st055">Objective</title> <p id="sp0005">Previous studies showed "F-wave inversion" (F-INV) as a sensitive method in the electrodiagnosis of early stage of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This study aimed at evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of F-wave and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing in CTS.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st060">Methods</title> <p id="sp0010">We consecutively enrolled 244 cases and 108 controls. F-waves analysis included: Fwave minimum and mean latencies, F-wave persistence and chronodispersion, mean-F/CMAP amplitude ratio, F-INV. Specificity and sensitivity of F-waves parameters were calculated in the whole sample of CTS patients and by grouping the patients according to CTS severity. Multivariate logistic regression was also performed using F-INV as a dependent variable.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st065">Results</title> <p id="sp0015">In the whole sample the sensitivity of F-mean-INV and of median–ulnar NCV comparative testing was 50.8% and 93.7%, respectively. F-INV sensitivity dropped to 8% in CTS early stage. F-INV could be predicted only by distal motor latency of the median nerve. The sensitivity of all F-wave parameters increased only in the most severe stages of CTS.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st070">Conclusions</title> <p id="sp0020">This study does not confirm the electrodiagnostic usefulness of F-INV in early stage of CTS. All F-wave parameters, including F-INV, are much less sensitive than conventional NCV in CTS electrodiagnosis. F-wave does not add further useful information specifically related to CTS.</p> </sec> </abstract>