1. The CT tester in Clinical Routine Review of results comparing different parameters for CTS
Erik Stålberg, Uppsala
Background:
Since CTS is the most comon referral reason to an EMG lab, it is of importance optimize the procedure for time, sensitivity and specificity.
Method:
Retrospective analysis of data from 244 patients with output diagnosis CTS. All patients had been studied with the so called CT tester.
Only patients with previous CT operation were excluded
Material:
Data from 244 CT hands (right) were tested. The material consists of the following groups
Slight 59
Moderate 102
Severe 83
Total 244
The relative frequency of abnormalities were analysed for each of the severity classes as shown
Slight Moderate Severe
Slight and Moderate CTS
Abnormal value and no response separated
CT tester has the highest individual hit rate, (74%)
Abnormal values in the group of Slight and Moderate CTS.
By adding abnormal sens diff med-uln IV, 10 more cases are pos= 94%
Abnormal finding = abn value or no response
Note the increasing hit rate of all parameters
with increasing severity
CONCLUSION: In Slight CTS the CT tester is equally or more sensitive (74 %) than any other of the studied parameters (med_uln diff for dig IV= 66%) not included. For Slight and moderate CTS, hit rate is 87%. With SCV diff uln_med, hit rate is 94%. “No response” from the CT tester can nearly always be taken as CT (except sensory axonal neuropathy). In this material there is no false positive.
The test is fast, easy to apply, automatic and reproducible. Es