Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2000;58(3-A): 625-629 WRIST AND PALM INDEXES IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

sensory latency difference to ring finger ≥ 0.5 ms (14 cm) or median midpalm (8 cm) latency ≥ 2.3 ms (all peak-measured), 141 Brazilian symptomatic patients (238 hands) have CTS confirmation. Wrist ratio (depth divided by width, WR) and a new wrist/palm ratio (wrist depth divided by the distance between distal wrist crease to the third digit metacarpophalangeal crease, WPR) were measured in all cases. Previous surgery/peripheral neuropathy were excluded; mean age 50.3 years; 90.8 % female. Control subjects (486 hands) have mean age 43.0 years; 96.7 % female. The mean WR in controls was 0.694 against 0.699, 0.703, 0.707 and 0.721 in CTS groups of progressive WIF severity. The mean WPR in controls was 0.374 against 0.376, 0.382, 0.387 and 0.403 in CTS groups of WIF progressive severity. Both were statistically significant for the last two groups (WIF> 4.4 ms, moderate, and, WIF unrecordable, severe). BMI increases togetherwith CTS severity and WR. It was concluded that both WR/WPR have a progressive correlation with the severity of CTS but with statistically significance only in groups moderate and severe. In these groups both WR and BMI have progressive increase and we believe that the latter could be a risk factor as important as important WR/WPR. KEY WORDS: carpal tunnel syndrome, median nerve, compressive neuropathy, wrist and palm ratio, wrist and hand dimension. Índices de palma/punho e síndrome do túnel do carpo RESUMO- Um grupo de 141 pacientes (238 mãos) com síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC) sintomático foi estudado após confirmação por condução nervosa: latência distal sensitiva do nervo mediano (LDS-M) ≥ 3,7 m