Liverpool carpal tunnel scoring system to predict nerve conduction study results: A prospective correlation study

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common peripheral nerve compressive neuropathies. The clinical symptoms and physical examinations of CTS are widely recognised, however, there is still debate around what is the best approach for assessment of CTS. Clinical assessment is still considered the gold standard, however, controversies do exist regarding the need for investigations such nerve conduction studies (NCS) to aid with management decisions.

AIM

To correlate the severity of NCS results to a scoring system which included symptoms, signs and risk factors.

METHODS

This was a prospective correlation study. We scored patients’ signs and symptoms using our CTS scoring system. This was then correlated with the findings of the NCS. The scoring system included - four symptoms (2 Katz hand diagrams – one for tingling and one for numbness; nocturnal paresthesia and bilateral symptoms) and four clinical signs (weak thumb abduction test; Tinel’s sign; Phalen sign and hypoalgesia in median nerve territory) and two risk factors (age more than 40 years and female sex). We classified the NCS results to normal, mild, moderate and severe.

RESULTS

There were 61 scores in 59 patients. The mean scores for the categories were as follows: 6.75 for normal NCS; 5.50 for mild NCS; 9.17 for moderate NCS and 9 for severe NCS. All scores of 8 or more matched with NCS results of moderate and severe intensity apart from three scores which were greater than seven that had normal NCS. Eta score was 0.822 for the CTS score being the dependent value and the NCS category being the independent variable showing a strong association between the scoring system and the NCS group.

CONCLUSION

We feel that this simple scoring system can be used to predict and correlate the severity of NCS in patients with CTS.

Bilateral supraclavicular swelling: an unusual presentation of ruptured Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) breast implants

Breast implants manufactured by the French company Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) have gained notoriety in the International media since the realisation that industrial grade silicone was used in their manufacture with consequent increased risk of implant rupture. At present, it is estimated that there are estimated to be over 40,000 women in the UK with PIP implants. We report an unusual presentation of PIP breast implant rupture as swelling in the supraclavicular fossae. This has not previously been reported in the literature.

Bilateral recurrent wrist flexor tenosynovitis and rice body formation in a patient with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Rice body formation has been traditionally observed in the joint and tendon sheaths of patients with tuberculosis. Few case reports exist that describe rice body formation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We describe a case report of bilateral recurrent wrist flexor tenosynovitis with rice body formation in a patient with sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This case report describes a 72 year old lady presenting with severe bilateral, flexor tenosynovitis of the wrists. Ultrasonography revealed significant echogenic fluid on the palmer aspect of wrist joint surrounding flexor tendons with intact neurovascular bundles and no bony erosion. Laboratory tests demonstrated elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (50 mm/h) and negative rheumatoid factor. A sequential subtotal flexor tenosynovectomy was carried out with decompression of the carpal tunnel. During the operation, multiple rice bodies among the flexor tendons with adherent synovitis were found. Histology revealed disrupted synovial tissue containing several areas of fibrinoid necrosis, bounded by a layer of vaguely pallisaded histiocytes but no epitheloid granulomata or germinal centre. A revision surgery with debulking of the fibro-osseous canal was undertaken following recurrence. The patient presently has complete resolution of symptoms at one year follow-up.

DISCUSSION

The combined clinical, laboratory, ultrasound and histology findings of the patient indicated that the cause of the rice body formation was due to a sero-negative arthritis rather than tuberculosis.

CONCLUSION

Rice body formation can be caused by sero-negative arthritis. Bilateral wrist flexor tensosynovitis can recur within five months of a previous synovectomy in a patient with sero-negative arthritis.