Does electrodiagnostic evidence correlate with mood and function in patients with a pre-diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome?

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate if function and mood involvement correlate in female patients who have a pre-diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and its correlation with physical examination and electrodiagnostic findings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 170 patients between the ages of 18-65 who applied to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinics with CTS symptoms between May 2014 and December 2015 were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 44.6±11 years. Before electrophysiological testing (electromyography; EMG), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), Beck Depression Inventory, Tinnel, Phalen and Durkan tests, grip and pinch strength measurement by JAMAR hand dynamometer were performed. The patients also used a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to determine the severity of their symptoms during the day and at night.

RESULTS

In 98 patients (57.6%) the diagnosis of CTS was confirmed by EMG, while 72 patients (42.4%) had normal electrodiagnostic findings. In patients who had normal EMG, Beck Depression Inventory and QuickDASH scores were not significantly different from the patients who had an electrodiagnosis of CTS. Pain experienced in the night was significantly higher in patients who had an electrodiagnosis of CTS, and these patients had significantly higher Beck Depression Inventory and QuickDASH scores.

CONCLUSION

The lack of electrodiagnostic evidence in patients who have CTS symptoms does not show that function and mood are not affected in these patients. However, mood is significantly affected in patients with severe CTS.