腕管综合征夜间夹板治疗的临床和电生理评估

目的 运用临床评分和神经传导检测(NCS)评估夜间夹板治疗对腕管综合征(CTS)的疗效,并探讨其间的相关性.方法 自2009年4月至2010年1月武汉大学人民医院神经内科就诊的CTS患者共66例,符合纳入标准者41例(64只腕).对其进行症状严重程度评分(SSS)、功能状态评分(FSS)以及常规NCS,记录腕-拇短展肌末端运动潜伏期(DML)、腕-食指/环指感觉传导速度(SCV)以及正中/尺神经感觉潜伏期差(△DSL).嘱患者以远侧腕皱褶为中心,掌面和背面各一块夹板,入睡前将腕部固定于中立位制动.夹板治疗前、(3.03±1.16)月后分别进行临床评分和NCS.共20例(31只腕)完成随访.结果 (1)DML、腕-食指SCV、腕-环指SCV和△DSL异常率分别为85.9%、78.1%、81.3%和96.9%.(2)与夹板治疗前比较,夹板后SSS和FSS减少、DML缩短、△DSL减小,治疗前、后SSS分别为1.77±0.38、1.55±0.38,FSS为1.53±0.31、1.40±0.27;DML为(4.53±1.25)ms、(4.14±0.76)ms;△DSL为1.24±0.61、0.97±0.60;9例(14只腕)夹板后临床评分无改善.(3)SSS与DML(r=0.420,P=0.019)、腕-食指SCV(r=-0.425,P=0.017)、腕-环指SCV(r=-0.519,P=0.003)之间存在较弱的相关性,与△DSL无相关(r=0.189,P=0.309);FSS与NCS各参数之间均无相关性(P均＞0.05).结论 一半以上CTS患者夹板治疗短期内有效;临床评分与NCS相关性不大,两者共同评估夹板疗效更有意义;△DSL诊断CTS最敏感.     

腕管综合征类固醇腕管局部注射的临床和电生理评估

目的:运用临床评分和神经传导检测(NCS)评估类固醇腕管局部注射对腕管综合征(CTS)的疗效.方法:2009年4月至2010年1月间就诊的CTS患者共66例,符合纳入标准者41例(64只腕).进行症状严重程度评分(SSS)、功能状态评分(FSS)以及常规NCS,记录腕-拇短展肌末端运动潜伏期(DML)、拇短展肌复合肌肉动作电位(CMAP)波幅,腕-食指/环指感觉传导速度(SCV)、正中/尺神经感觉潜伏期差(⊿DSL)和感觉神经动作电位(SNAP)波幅.嘱患者改变生活方式且行夜间腕部夹板,2周后症状无好转者行类固醇腕管局部注射.紧挨掌长肌腱尺侧、腕皱褶近侧,用25号针头以30°角朝向腕管进针,注射利多卡因1 ml(20 mg)和甲基强的松龙1 ml(40 mg).注射前、注射(3.23±0.56)个月后分别进行临床评分和NCS.结果:①18例(28只腕)进行了注射,12例(19只腕)完成随访.与注射前比较,注射后SSS和FSS减少、DML缩短、⊿DSL减小、腕-环指SCV增快、SNAP和CMAP波幅增高.注射前、注射后SSS分别为(2.31±0.45)、(1.89±0.46)(t=5.82,P=0.000);FSS为(2.29±0.64)、(1.79±0.59)(t=5.21,P=0.000);DML(ms)为(5.08±1.58)、(4.66±1.76)(t=2.81,P=0.012);⊿DSL(ms)为(1.25±0.67)、(0.93±0.67)(t=3.90,P=0.002);SCV(m/s)为(40.55±11.48)、(44.70±13.66)(t=-2.55,P=0.029); SNAP波幅(μV)为(12.72±10.83)、(15.07±11.00)(t=-2.17,P=0.048);CMAP波幅(mV)为(5.31±3.37)、(6.13±3.04)(t=-2.42,P=0.026);3例(4只腕、21%)注射后临床评分无改善.②SSS、FSS与NCS各参数之间均无相关性(P均＞0.05).结论:CTS患者类固醇腕管局部注射治疗至少在短期内有效;临床评分与NCS无相关性,两者共同评估疗效更有意义.     

第二蚓状肌-骨间肌记录法在腕管综合征的诊断价值研究

目的探讨第二蚓状肌-骨间肌记录法在不同程度腕管综合征(carpal tunnel syndrome;CTS)中的诊断价值。方法以符合纳入标准的CTS患者44例(56只患手)为病例组,年龄、性别匹配的30例健康志愿者的非利手为对照组。表面电极刺激和记录,分别进行正中、尺神经的运动和感觉传导检测。主要参数包括,(1)掌-拇短展肌的末端运动潜伏时(DML)、腕-拇短展肌DML(APB-DML)、腕-掌段运动传导速度(wpMCV),以及腕-食指末端感觉潜伏时(DSL)、感觉传导速度(SCV);(2)腕-小指展肌DML、腕-第二骨间肌DML;(3)腕-环指正中/尺神经末端感觉潜伏时的差值(dDSL);(4)腕-第二蚓状肌DML(2L-DML)及其与腕-第二骨间肌DML的差值(2LI-DML)。根据腕-拇短展肌DML以及腕-食指SCV,将CTS患者分为轻、中和重度组。结果在44例患者56只患手中轻度CTS19肢,中度22肢,重度15肢;其中7例CTS患者合并下肢周围神经病。与对照组相比,3个病例组的APB-DML延长、wpMCV减慢、dDSL增大、2L-DML延长、2LI-DML增大,均有统计学差异(P0.01)。在轻度组以及中度组2LI-DML诊断的敏感性与APB-DML、wpM-CV、dDSL无明显差异(P0.05);在重度组,2LI-DML诊断的敏感性与APB-DML、wpMCV无差异(P0.05),与dDSL的差异有显著性(χ2=7.03,P0.05)。结论第二蚓状肌-骨间肌记录法可有效检出各种程度的CTS,在重度CTS尤其是合并多发性神经病者,则是很有价值的检测方法。     

45例正中神经腕管卡压神经电生理检测与临床分析

目的探讨正中神经腕管卡压(CTS)神经电生理检测价值。方法对临床的症状及体征符合CTS的45例患者行正中神经运动神经的传导速度与尺神经运动神经的传导速度检测;桡神经与正中神经拇指-腕感觉潜伏期时差值;正中神经与尺神经无名指-腕感觉潜伏期时差值;双侧正中神经F波的检测;拇短展肌、小指展肌的肌电图检测。结果 45例患者中63只异常,双侧病变18例,单侧病变27例,正中神经运动末端潜伏期延长或(及)传导速度减慢异常率31.5%,波幅减低异常率28.3%;正中神经拇指-腕感觉神经潜伏期延长异常率71.5%;合并波幅减低者异常率占79.3%;正中神经环指-腕感觉神经传导潜伏期延长异常率81.6%,合并波幅减低异常率89.4%;正中神经F波异常率33.6%;拇短展肌呈神经源性改变异常率20.1%。结论神经电生理的常规检测联合运用感觉神经潜伏期时差值法对CTS有更敏感、更精确的诊断价值。     

低钾型周期性瘫痪患者运动诱发试验中肌力和肌电图改变与血钾的关系

目的 通过长时运动诱发试验,观察低钾型周期性瘫痪患者肌力和肌电图的变化与血钾之间的关系.方法 收集确诊为低钾型周期性瘫痪患者78例,对小指展肌进行运动诱发试验测定,以拇短展肌作为对照,观察120 min,测定运动诱发前后尺神经/小指展肌和正中神经/拇短展肌复合肌肉动作电位(compound muscle action potential,CMAP)波幅变化,同时观察患者小指外展和小指内收肌力以及拇短展肌肌力的变化,部分患者测定运动前后血钾水平.分析运动后不同肌肉的肌力、CMAP波幅与血钾之间的关系.结果 在小指外展运动后,78例患者尺神经CMAP波幅运动后比运动前明显下降,分别为(4.6±2.7)、(9.6±3.2)mV(t=16.047,P=0.000),而正中神经CMAP波幅在小指外展运动后与运动前相比无明显差异,分别为(10.9±4.2)、(11.2±3.9)mV(t=0.673,P=0.822).在运动后,76例小指外展肌力下降;有41例小指外展肌力小于Ⅲ级,但同侧小指内收和拇短展肌肌力仍为V级,对其中10例患者在运动前和运动后测定血钾,结果无明显差异,分别为(3.8±0.3)、(3.9±0.4)mmol/L(t =0.395,P=0.702).结论 在低钾型周期性瘫痪患者进行运动诱发试验时,血钾并非影响肌力和CMAP波幅变化的关键因素.     

腕管综合征的神经电生理特征

目的:探讨腕管综合征(CTS)患者的神经电生理特征。方法:对临床症状、体征符合CTS的患者22例(31侧)行正中神经,尺神经.桡神经运动和感觉传导速度测定,以及拇短展肌,小指展肌,伸指总肌肌电图检测。结果:在31条患病正中神经中9条感觉传导未引出反应波、22条正中神经感觉潜伏期延长、波幅降低、或(和)感觉传导速度减慢;23条正中神经运动传导远端潜伏期延长、波幅降低;18块正中神经支配肌拇短展肌呈神经源改变。结论:神经电生理检测中以正中神经感觉潜伏期异常阳性率最高(100%);其次是正中神经运动传导远端潜伏期延长(74%)和拇短展肌神经源性改变(58%)。     

60例腕管综合征患者的神经电生理检测与临床分析

目的 探讨腕管综合征(CTS)患者的神经电生理特征.方法 对临床症状、体征符合CTS的60例患者进行正中神经、尺神经的运动和感觉传导速度测定,及拇短展肌、小指展肌的肌电图检测.结果 60例患者中,双侧病变18例,单侧病变42例.60例CTS患者中78条正中神经感觉传导潜伏期均延长和感觉传导速度均减慢,60条正中神经感觉诱发波幅降低,74条正中神经运动远端潜伏期延长,4条正中神经运动远端潜伏期和诱发波幅正常.58块正中神经支配的拇短展肌呈神经源性损害.结论 神经电生理检查在CTS的诊断与鉴别诊断中有重要意义.     

环指感觉神经感觉传导速度在轻度腕管综合征诊断中的应用

目的 寻找诊断轻度腕管综合征(CTS)敏感的电生理检查方法。方法 临床症状、体征符合CTS,正中神经运动末端潜伏期正常的患者19例(29侧)和年龄性别相匹配的健康对照组23名(25侧),采用顺向性感觉神经传导速度(SCV)测定法分别测定环指(指4)正中神经和尺神经SCV,中指(指3)正中神经SCV。结果 环指尺神经SCV>45.2 m/s,正中神经SCV<44.1 m/s,和(或)尺神经SCV与正中神经SCV差值>8.1 m/s(x+σx),考虑符合CTS诊断。CTS组中指正中神经SCV测定异常率为66％,环指为76％,环指正中神经与尺神经SCV差值异常率为93％。环指刺激在8例(14侧)患者腕部正中神经处记录到双峰电位,但对照组均未见。结论 比较环指正中神经和尺神经SCV在鉴别轻度CTS方面是敏感的方法之一,在怀疑CTS时,该项检查可作为常规的电生理检查方法。     

ALS功能评分和CMAP波幅对MND患者预后评估的研究

目的探讨MND患者ALSFRS与运动传导改变的相关性及其对预后评估的价值。方法2007年8月～2008年7月间符合Escorial诊断标准不同确定性水平的MND患者40例,健康志愿者102名为对照组。对所有患者均进行ALSFRS,并分别测量尺神经（腕部）-小指展肌以及胫神经（踝部）-[足母]展肌的复合肌肉动作电位（CMAP）波幅和末端运动潜伏期（DML）,分析ALSFRS与运动传导参数的关系。结果（1）肯定型ALS20例,拟诊型ALS10例,可能型ALS4例,进行性脊肌萎缩6例;（2）与对照组比较,患者组小指展肌和[足母]展肌CMAP波幅（mV）减低,尺神经DML延长（P〈0．01）;（3）ALSFRS与小指展肌和[足母]展肌CMAP波幅以及尺神经DML均呈显著相关（r分别为0．653,0．446和-0．592;P分别为0．000、0．004和0．000）;ALSFRS％30分的9例（100％）患者CMAP波幅均异常减低,31例ALSFRS≥30分的患者有17例（54．8％）的CMAP波幅异常减低（Х^2=6．25,P=0．012）;（4）随访的8例患者中6例ALSFRS在30分以下;与首次就诊相比,随访的8例患者其ALSFRS以及小指展肌CMAP波幅均减低（P〈0．05）。随访者的ALSFRS与小指展肌及[足母]展肌CMAP波幅均呈正相关（r分别为0．836和0．822;P分别为0．01和0．012）,与DML无相关（P〉0．05）。结论MND患者可出现CMAP波幅减低及DML延长;ALSFRS与CMAP波幅显著相关,二者同时减低提示预后差,可作为客观反映MND患者严重程度的可靠指标。     

腕部夹板联合口服药物对轻中度腕管综合征的疗效研究

目的探讨口服药物联合腕部夹板治疗对轻中度腕管综合征(CTS)的治疗作用。方法选取轻中度CTS患者70例,随机分成夜间腕部夹板组、口服药物组、夹板及口服药物联合治疗组。分别在治疗前、治疗4周、治疗12周时对各组患者进行包含症状严重程度评分(SSS)和功能状态评分(FSS)的波士顿腕管量表(BCTQ)评分、疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)及包括正中神经末端运动潜伏期(DML)、感觉神经传导速度(SCV)、感觉神经波幅(SNAP)在内的电生理检测。结果联合治疗组患者在4周时BCTQ评分、VAS评分及DML、SCV、SNAP指标改善,12周时较4周SSS及VAS评分及DML、SCV值进一步好转,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。联合治疗组患者在4周时的BCTQ评分、VAS评分及电生理指标均明显优于夹板组和(或)口服药物组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论夜间腕部夹板及口服药物联合治疗能在短期内缓解CTS患者病情,并能长期持续改善患者的症状及功能,可应用于临床CTS患者。     

Characteristics of forearm mixed nerve conduction study in carpal tunnel syndrome: Comparison with ultrasound assessments

This study aimed to characterize forearm mixed nerve conduction study (NCS) findings in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Eighty-two patients with CTS and 48 healthy controls were enrolled. We directly compared the forearm mixed NCS and ultrasonography results from CTS patients with those from the controls. Correlation analyses were performed to identify the relationship between forearm mixed NCS parameters and ultrasound measurements in CTS. We observed reduced forearm mixed nerve amplitude and increased cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the proximal carpal tunnel (CT) inlet in CTS. The forearm mixed nerve amplitude negatively correlated with the CSA at the proximal CT inlet. We found a negative correlation between Bland's neurophysiological grade and the forearm mixed nerve amplitude as well as a positive correlation between the CSA of the median nerve at the proximal CT inlet and Bland's neurophysiological grade. We confirmed that the reduced median mixed nerve amplitude is the distinguishing feature of forearm mixed NCS in CTS. Our findings suggest that the forearm mixed NCS is potentially useful in evaluating its severity.     

Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in floor cleaners.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) in a cohort of floor cleaners and to check differences between workers with and without CTS. METHODS: All female floor cleaners of three major hospitals in Tuscany (Italy) were contacted. Clinical and electrophysiological severity of CTS and UNE were evaluated with standardized scales and symptoms were assessed with the self-administered Boston Questionnaire (BQ); demographic and non-occupational factors and durations of current and previous occupations were recorded. Univariate analysis of risk factors was performed in workers with and without CTS. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the capacity of independent variables to predict CTS. RESULTS: Out of a total of 179 cleaners, 145 (81%)-mean age 39.6 years (20-64 years)-were enrolled in the study; 70 (48%) had CTS (diagnosis based on clinical and electrophysiological findings). BQ symptom and hand function scores were anomalous in 108 (74%) and 84 (58%) subjects, respectively. UNE was detected in 7/103 women. Univariate analysis showed that cleaners with CTS were older, had greater BMI and longer exposure to cleaning with previous employers than those without CTS. In the logistic regression, the only predictor of CTS was cleaning with previous employers (O.R. 12.1, 95% CI 3-49.9). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a high occurrence of CTS in floor cleaners; UNE is less frequent than CTS, presumably due to repetitive movements that stress wrists more than elbows. The only predictive factor of CTS was cleaning as an occupation with previous employers. Therefore, the actual risk factor for CTS could not be cleaning per se, but how this job is performed.     

血管危险因素对老年性痴呆认知功能障碍进展的影响

目的：通过前瞻性研究探讨血管危险因素对阿尔茨海默病（AD）认知功能障碍进展的影响。方法：AD患者311例，分为2组（有或无血管危险因素组），随访3年，采用询问病史、实验室检查、成套神经心理检测等收集人文情况、血管危险因素及认知功能变化等资料，完成随访243例。运用t检验、X^2检验和多元线性逐步回归模型分析血管危险因素与AD认知功能障碍进展的关系。结果：单因素分析表明，同无血管危险因素者相比，AD患者中有血管危险因素者随访3年后认知功能障碍的进展更快（P〈0．01）。多因素分析表明，短暂性脑缺血发作、糖尿病、高血压、颈动脉粥样硬化斑块、当前吸烟和每日饮酒是AD认知功能障碍进展的独立危险因素。结论：血管危险因素加剧了AD认知功能障碍的进展，提示血管危险因素参与了AD发病的过程，积极防治血管危险因素可能在一定程度上减缓AD的进展。     

Symptoms and neurophysiological picture of carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in pregnancy through a validated and multiperspective assessment of CTS. METHODS: During 2000, the Italian CTS study group focussed on the occurrence of CTS in women during the final stages of pregnancy, enrolled in 7 Italian centers. In addition to the physician-centered and neurophysiologic traditional evaluations, we used a validated patient-oriented measurement to obtain more comprehensive and consistent data for severity of symptoms and functional impairment. RESULTS: In our study, CTS was clinically diagnosed in more than half of women (62%). Neurophysiological evaluation provided diagnosis of CTS in around half of women (43% were positive in one hand at least). Our study provides evidence, reported here for the first time, of a correlation between edema and neurophysiological picture. Similarly, our study provides a correlation between validated patient-oriented measurement and edema. Moreover, a significant correlation between a negative trend (subjectively assessed) and smoking and alcohol consumption was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations confirm that the edema of the tissues in the carpal tunnel could induce a mechanical compression of the nerve. Moreover, our data suggest that smoking and alcohol consumption have a negative role in the evolution of the syndrome probably due to impairment of the microcirculation.     

Prospective study of positive factors for improvement of carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnant women

The aims of this study were to evaluate differences between women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and symptom onset in pregnancy (pregnancy cohort) and women with idiopathic CTS (control cohort) and to report changes in symptoms assessed by the Levine Boston Questionnaire (BQ) administered by phone 3 years after diagnosis. Forty-five pregnant women with CTS (mean age 32 +/- 3.9 years) and 90 age-matched women with idiopathic CTS were consecutively enrolled. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings and abnormal transcarpal median nerve conduction. Univariate analysis showed that the pregnancy cohort had a shorter duration of symptoms, higher frequency of bilateral symptoms and non-blue-collar workers, and lower clinical and electrophysiological severity evaluated by ordinal scales and BQ scores. Multivariate analysis showed that the pregnancy cohort had a probability of improvement of symptoms 3-4 times greater than the control cohort. The need for further treatment depended on BQ functional score; 50% of pregnant women had tolerable CTS symptoms and 85% did not require further treatment 3 years after diagnosis, whereas 72% of women in the control cohort did not require long-term therapy. The probability of need for CTS treatment did not depend on the cohort, but only on the severity of hand disability.     

Factors influencing the diagnostic process of carpal tunnel syndrome

There are no studies regarding the course leading to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosis and factors influencing the diagnostic process. The study aim is to analyse CTS diagnostic path assessing whether the type of physician (general practitioners or specialist) may influence the manner and timing of diagnosis, and whether CTS severity at diagnosis may be predicted by factors related to Public Health Service and/or to patient. A medical history form was filled in by 375 consecutive patients with idiopathic CTS enrolled at an electromyography service. The patient answered a self-administered questionnaire on symptom severity and the neurophysiologist quantified clinical and electrophysiological CTS severity. The patients going directly to general practitioner were older and more blue collars, had minor education level, more symptom duration, more clinical and electrophysiological severity, more medical examination numbers, more time elapsing between first visit to a doctor and referral for EMG than those going to a specialist. But all variables are interrelated and when multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, only patient age and some other few independent variables related to patient or health care but not to referring doctor could predict CTS severity at the diagnosis. Typology of the first doctor did not influence diagnostic path. The patients should reduce the time elapsing between CTS symptom onset and consulting doctor thus, permitting early treatments. Some corrective actions on diagnostic path may concern the public health service by reducing waiting lists to perform electrodiagnostic testing and giving greater information to population at risk.     

Does retrograde axonal atrophy really occur in carpal tunnel syndrome patients with normal forearm conduction velocity?

OBJECTIVE: The cause of decreased median forearm motor conduction velocity (FMCV) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is best ascribed to retrograde axonal atrophy (RAA); however, the relationships between the occurrence of RAA and electrophysiological or clinical severity remains controversial. We attempt to determine whether RAA really occurs in CTS patients with normal median FMCV and to investigate any relationships between RAA and severity of compression at the wrist. METHODS: Consecutive CTS patients were enrolled and age-matched volunteers served as controls. We performed conventional nerve conduction studies (NCS) and measured median and ulnar distal motor latencies (DML), FMCV, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes, distal sensory latencies (DSL), and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes. Furthermore, palmar median stimulation was done to calculate the wrist-palm motor conduction velocity (W-P MCV). Patients included for analysis should have normal FMCV and needle examination. We compared each electrodiagnostic parameters between the patient group and controls. RESULTS: The mean+/-SD of the W-P MCV for patients and controls were 33.26+/-6.74 and 52.14+/-5.85 m/s and those of median FMCV were 55.26+/-3.56 and 57.82+/-3.9 m/s, respectively. There was a significant reduction in the W-P MCV (36.2%, P<0.00001), significant decrease in the median FMCV (4.43%, P<0.00001) and SNAP amplitudes, and an increase of the DML and DSL in the patient group (P<0.00001) compared to the controls; however, there were no differences in median and ulnar CMAP amplitudes, ulnar FMCV and DML between the controls and patients. CONCLUSIONS: RAA and relatively slowed median FMCV do occur in CTS patients with normal median FMCV, regardless of severity of clinical manifestations and electrophysiological abnormalities. SIGNIFICANCE: This article provides new information for research of the electrophysiological changes of the proximal nerve part at distal injury.     

痴呆患者血浆凝血及炎性因子变化的相关性研究

目的:观察阿尔茨海默病(AD)和血管性痴呆(VaD)患者的相关凝血及炎性因子变化,了解AD与VaD有否内在联系,并探讨非甾体类抗炎药物的干预作用。方法:选择神经科住院或门诊临床确诊AD和VaD患者以及正常对照各30例,检测纤维蛋白原及其降解产物、纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1、凝血因子Ⅶ、超敏C反应蛋白、白介素-6的含量。同时随机选取AD与VaD组各15例给予阿司匹林药物干预后观测临床疗效。结果:与正常对照组比较,病例组Fg、FDP、PAI-1、FⅦ、hs-CRP、IL-6差异显著(P<0.05),但AD与VaD组比较无差异(P>0.05)。药物干预组与非药物干预组比较,临床变化具有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论:与凝血/抗凝平衡、炎症反应等相关的因素,与AD、VaD的发生与发展具有一定的相关性,可能是两者共同的始动因素之一,导致一些相同的病理生理基础。     

Prevalent involvement of thenar motor fibres in vineyard workers with carpal tunnel syndrome

ObjectiveCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has a high prevalence in agricultural workers, especially those engaged in vineyards. We postulated that vineyard CTS was electrophysiologically different from CTS of other subjects. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional electrophysiological study of two cohorts of consecutive patients with CTS, the first consisting of vineyard workers and the second, of other unselected types of workers, housewives and pensioners.MethodsThirty-three vineyard workers (mean age 46.8 years, 42% women) and 205 patients with other occupations (mean age 53.7 years; 66% women) were enrolled. All patients underwent sensory and motor neurography of the median and ulnar nerves. Differences in demographic and electrophysiological findings between groups were calculated and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to eliminate the influence of potential confounding factors (age, sex, BMI, clinical severity of CTS) on the results of univariate difference analysis.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that DML was longer and compound muscle action potential amplitude of the median nerve, recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, was smaller in vineyard workers than in the other CTS patients. These differences remained significant after adjusting the results for confounding factors.ConclusionsThe vineyard workers showed a different pattern of CTS than the other patients: thenar motor fibres were more affected, presumably due to chronic compression on the thenar branch. This suggests an association between “common” CTS and thenar mononeuropathy.SignificanceOccupational physiologists should clarify the mechanisms of neuromuscular engagement in particular jobs and ergonomists design suitable working tools, because many “individual” risk factors are difficult to change, but workplace-related risk factors can be modified.