Do you recommend EMG/NCS in all patients with clinical findings of carpal tunnel syndrome?

In my experience as a neurophysiologist, a typical Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (with all the classical signs and symptoms) can be diagnosed with high certainty by examination and history alone. My recommendation would be that when the symptoms are mild and the presentation is typical, conservative treatm...

Cross sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve as measured by ultrasound can be very useful in this decision tree. Using the understanding that nerves decrease in CSA as the nerve courses proximal to distal, a definitive statement on nerve swelling, defining entrapment, can be made with ultrasound i...

Yes. Not only does the test confirm the diagnosis, but it also gives information about the severity and treatment guidance. It also helps to exclude other diagnoses or associated diagnoses (e.g. polyneuropathy, conduction block elsewhere, radiculopathy). Also, negative tests or milder disease presen...

Any diagnostic use of US is limited by the experience of the technician and the radiologist reading it. It works in academic tertiary care settings where the volume may be higher as well as experience. In clinical setting within a community clinic or hospital, EMG/NCV is more likely to be helpful, a...