Carpal tunnel cross sectional area measurement in carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel cross sectional area and carpal tunnel area/wrist area ratios of 23 subjects including 8 bilateral, 9 unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome patients and 6 control patients were examined. Carpal tunnel areas of the patients were found to be 1.7-1.6 cm² and the control group 1.9-2.1 cm². The carpal tunnel/wrist area ratios were calculated to exclude anatomical differences. This ratio of the patient group was found to be statistically different from the controls. Measurements of the unilateral carpal tunnel patients revealed a predisposing narrowing of the affected wrists.