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
Completed
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Observational
Enrollment (Actual)
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 Locations
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Istanbul
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Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34307
- Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital
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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
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 |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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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
|
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
|
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
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
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.
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Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
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Hand Grip Strength Measured Using a Jamar Dynamometer (kg)
Time Frame: Baseline (prior to study assessments, during the single study visit)
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Maximum hand grip strength will be measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer.
The mean of three measurements will be recorded in kilograms (kg).
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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.
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)
June 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Actual)
July 31, 2026
Study Completion (Actual)
July 31, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
July 29, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 3, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
August 7, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
September 16, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
September 13, 2026
Last Verified
September 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID 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
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