Introduction:

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment disorder. Electrodiagnostic studies are useful for confirming the diagnosis, as they reveal focal demyelinating involvement predominantly affecting sensation. However, their correlation with symptoms is not always adequate, and there are cases of discrepancy between the study results and the patient’s clinical presentation. The objective was to analyze the correlation between the findings in median nerve conduction studies and the severity of symptoms on the Boston scale.

Material and methods:

an observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with prospective recruitment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. A correlation analysis was performed between the Boston scale in general and each of the symptom severity items with different sensory and motor nerve conduction parameters.

Results:

correlations with the total Boston scale score were low and insignificant, the highest being r = 0.22 with motor conduction velocity in the wrist. The symptom of weakness in grasping small objects obtained the highest correlations, the highest being with sensory latency r = 0.64 p < 0.05.

Conclusion:

there is little correlation between sensory symptoms and neuroconduction studies. Motor symptoms have a higher degree of correlation. There is a difference between the patient’s perception (carpal tunnel syndrome) and the electrodiagnostic study (median nerve neuropathy). The studies are useful for demonstrating focal damage to the median nerve.