Evaluation of Coexistence of Cervical Radiculopathy in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Based on Electromyography Findings in Patients Referred to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common neuropathy caused by nerve compression. The “double crush syndrome” (DCS) theory suggests the coexistence of CTS and cervical radiculopathy (CR). Studies on DCS have focused mainly on nerve damage in the proximal part and, subsequently, vulnerability of the distal part of the nerve to injuries, in particular, entrapment. There are few studies on the presence of distal injury following the vulnerability of the proximal portion. Therefore, the current study deals with the evaluation of the simultaneous presence of CR in patients with CTS.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 309 upper limb electromyography (EMG) records of patients with CTS. These patients referred to the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2016 to 2019 with complaints of neck pain or tingling hands to have an EMG. The demographic data and EMG findings

were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Of 309 patients with CTS, 17 (5.5%) patients had CR. The prevalence of CTS and DCS increased with age and it was higher in women compared to men. However, this increase was not significant for DCS. The present study showed that C5-C6 nerve roots were more involved in CTS and DCS in comparison to other nerve roots.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that concurrent incidence of CR was very low in patients with CTS. This may indicate that nerve damage in the distal part does not predispose the proximal area to injury.