Morphometric Analysis of the Median Nerve at the Carpal Tunnel Among Adults with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Enugu State

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy, resulting from compression of the median nerve within the fibro-osseous carpal tunnel at the wrist. It disproportionately affects individuals engaged in repetitive manual tasks and is associated with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and pregnancy. Ultrasonographic measurement of the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel has emerged as a reliable diagnostic parameter, yet normative values for Nigerian adults are sparse. This study aims to document the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel using high-frequency ultrasound among adults with confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy controls attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Nerve cross-sectional area and wrist-to-forearm ratio will be measured and compared between groups. The diagnostic accuracy of sonographic assessment using locally derived cut-off values will be evaluated. The study anticipates establishing population-specific ultrasonographic diagnostic thresholds for carpal tunnel syndrome in South East Nigeria, improving clinical diagnosis in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, median nerve, ultrasound, cross-sectional area, Enugu