Sonographic Imaging of the Median Nerve in Elderly Patients With Motor Disability

TL;DR

This study uses ultrasound to measure the median nerve in elderly patients with motor disability, comparing it to other groups.

Contribution

The study introduces ultrasound as a potential diagnostic tool for median nerve assessment in elderly disabled patients.

Findings

Elderly disabled patients had a median nerve CSA of 11 mm².

Young controls had a median nerve CSA of 10.45 mm².

Elderly nondisabled participants had a median nerve CSA of 13.04 mm².

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine the median nerve (MN) cross-sectional area (CSA) by ultrasound at the level of the carpal tunnel in elderly patients with motor disability.

Materials and methods

The study sample included 124 median nerves in 62 participants; 16 of them were disabled elderly patients (13 males, three females), mean age 66.6, mean height 167.1 cm, mean weight 83.9 kg, mean BMI 29.9. Twenty-three were young controls (six males, 17 females), mean age 48.4, mean height 154.9 cm, mean weight 79.8 kg, mean BMI 32.7, and 23 were elderly nondisabled participants (13 males, 10 females), mean age 63.6, mean height 161.9 cm, mean weight 80.56 kg, mean BMI 30.88.

Results

The mean CSA of the MN in the elderly disabled group was 11 mm2. The mean CSA of the young control group MN was 10.45 mm2. The mean CSA of the MN in the elderly nondisabled group (both diabetic and nondiabetic) was 13.04 mm2. The mean CSA of the MN in the elderly diabetic nondisabled group was 14.5 mm2. The mean CSA of the MN in the elderly (nondiabetic) nondisabled group was 11.65 mm2.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that nerve ultrasound could be a helpful tool for assessment of the median nerve in elderly patients with motor disability.

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