Assessment of Ultrasound Findings, Nerve Test Results, and Hand Function in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

September 13, 2026 updated by: Hatice Zehra FERHATLAR, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital

Association of Clinical Severity With Ultrasonographic, Electrophysiological, and Functional Parameters in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common conditions caused by compression of a nerve at the wrist. It can lead to numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, and difficulty performing daily activities. Although nerve conduction studies are widely used to confirm the diagnosis and assess disease severity, ultrasonography has become an increasingly important, non-invasive diagnostic tool. However, the relationship between ultrasound findings, nerve conduction study results, hand function, and symptom severity has not been fully clarified.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the clinical severity of carpal tunnel syndrome and ultrasonographic, electrophysiological, and functional parameters. Participants with carpal tunnel syndrome will undergo ultrasonographic measurement of the median nerve, nerve conduction studies, hand grip strength assessment, pressure pain threshold measurement, and completion of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire.

The investigators hypothesize that greater clinical severity will be associated with larger median nerve cross-sectional area, more severe electrophysiological abnormalities, reduced hand grip strength, lower pressure pain threshold, and poorer functional status. The findings of this study may improve the understanding of the relationship between structural, electrophysiological, and functional changes in carpal tunnel syndrome and contribute to clinical evaluation and patient management.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
109

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34307
        • Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of adult patients (≥18 years) with clinically suspected and electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome who are evaluated in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Participants will be classified into mild, moderate, and severe groups according to electrophysiological severity.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years or older
  • Clinical findings consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome confirmed by electroneuromyography
  • Ability to understand and complete the study assessments
  • Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous carpal tunnel release surgery
  • History of fracture, major trauma, or surgery involving the assessed wrist or hand
  • Cervical radiculopathy, brachial plexopathy, or other peripheral neuropathy affecting the upper extremity
  • Polyneuropathy
  • Inflammatory rheumatic disease or active infection involving the assessed upper extremity
  • Severe neurological or musculoskeletal disorder that may affect hand function
  • Inability to complete ultrasonographic, electrophysiological, functional, or questionnaire assessments

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnostic test: Ultrasonographic and Clinical Assessment
Participants will undergo a standardized diagnostic assessment including ultrasonographic measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet, nerve conduction study evaluation, hand grip strength measurement using a Jamar dynamometer, pressure pain threshold assessment using a digital algometer, and completion of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. All assessments will be performed once during a single study visit. No therapeutic intervention will be administered.
Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnostic test: Ultrasonographic and Clinical Assessment
Participants will undergo a standardized diagnostic assessment including ultrasonographic measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet, nerve conduction study evaluation, hand grip strength measurement using a Jamar dynamometer, pressure pain threshold assessment using a digital algometer, and completion of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. All assessments will be performed once during a single study visit. No therapeutic intervention will be administered.
Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnostic test: Ultrasonographic and Clinical Assessment
Participants will undergo a standardized diagnostic assessment including ultrasonographic measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet, nerve conduction study evaluation, hand grip strength measurement using a Jamar dynamometer, pressure pain threshold assessment using a digital algometer, and completion of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. All assessments will be performed once during a single study visit. No therapeutic intervention will be administered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Median Nerve Cross-Sectional Area Measured by Ultrasonography (mm²)
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
The median nerve cross-sectional area will be measured by high-resolution ultrasonography at the carpal tunnel inlet (pisiform level). The mean of three measurements will be recorded in square millimeters (mm²).
Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Score
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Symptom severity will be assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) Symptom Severity Scale. Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Functional Status Score
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Functional status will be assessed using the Functional Status Scale of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ-FSS). The questionnaire consists of 8 items evaluating difficulty in performing daily activities. Each item is scored from 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (cannot perform the activity), and the final score is calculated as the mean of all items. Higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.
Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Hand Grip Strength Measured Using a Jamar Dynamometer (kg)
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Maximum hand grip strength will be measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. The mean of three measurements will be recorded in kilograms (kg).
Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Pressure Pain Threshold Measured Using a Digital Algometer (kPa)
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
Pressure pain threshold will be assessed using a digital pressure algometer. The mean of three measurements will be recorded in kPa
Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 31, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PMR-KTS-2026-01

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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