Objectives:
To explore the value of ultrasound in the etiological diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) caused by persistent median artery(PMA) and the advantage of ultrasound in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome combined with persistent median artery.
Methods:
From May 2017 to May 2022,5 patients with persistent median artery who underwent bilateral carpal tunnel ultrasound examination in our hospital were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent bilateral carpal tunnel ultrasound examination,observed the morphological structure and anatomical relationship of median nerve and persistent median artery.
Results:
Only 1 patient reported numbness and pain in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger on the right palmar surface,the symptoms worsened at night or in the early morning, and alleviated after activity and hand shaking. Ultrasound results suggested that PMA running in the epineurium of the median nerve,can lead to the formation of median nerve fissure and PMA thrombosis,which resulted in CTS.While PMA running outside the epineurium of the median nerve can not result in CTS.
Conclusions:
The anatomical relationship between PMA and median nerve is the main risk factor for formation of CTS, while ultrasound can precisely meet its diagnostic criteria because of its display of the subtle structure of the nerve, so ultrasound can be used as the main examination method for the diagnosis of PMA with CTS.