A Case of Suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Ultrasonography Prior to the Scalpel.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent focal mononeuropathy worldwide and is traditionally diagnosed based on clinical history, examination, and nerve conduction studies. Surgical release is the gold standard in cases where conservative management fails; however, it is prudent to obtain imaging before planning such intervention. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with typical symptoms of CTS, which was confirmed with nerve conduction studies and was being considered for carpal tunnel release surgery. Her history and laboratory studies revealed rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent ultrasonography showed swelling of the median nerve just proximal to the transverse carpal ligament at the level of pronator quadratus muscle. The possibility of a nerve sheath tumour or tenosynovitis with edematous fascicles of the median nerve was considered, and a decision was taken to give a short course of prednisolone 1 mg/kg, to which she clinically responded and the repeat ultrasonography showed near complete resolution of the focal nerve enlargement. This case emphasizes the role of point-of-care neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) in identifying the underlying cause of CTS and validates NMUS as a powerful tool in reaching a comprehensive diagnosis in entrapment neuropathies and it should be incorporated into the routine protocol of diagnosis of these disorders.