The relationship between symptoms and electrophysiological detected compression of the median nerve at the wrist

Objective – The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms and compression of the median nerve at the wrist in symptomatic patients. Methods – A total of 250 patients were selected among those referred for electrodiagnostic evaluation with complaints involving hand or wrist. Primary and secondary symptoms were extracted from the answers to the instrument proposed by Levine et al. [J Bone Joint Surg Am 1993;75:1585]. The association of symptoms and the presence of compression of the median nerve at the wrist were ascertained through a multiple logistic regression test. Results – Secondary symptoms (pain and weakness) were inversely associated with the presence of median nerve compression. Furthermore, primary symptoms (paresthesia, disability and nocturnal symptom) occurred similarly in patients with and without electrophysiologic findings of median nerve compression at the wrist.