SÍNDROME DO TÚNEL DO CARPO: Dor e Exame Neurológico

Abstract

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) represents the most common entrapment neuropathy, better defined and more studied in the human being. The diagnosis is commonly presumed in patients with painful syndrome in the upper limbs, whose symptoms aggravate at night. The gold-standard for the diagnosis is the occurring of alterations in the sensitive and muscled conduction of the median nerve. Despite the CTS being well clinically characterized, when it is typical, a lot of painful factors in the upper limbs are not caused by CTS, and these patients neuralgic exam may vary from normal to serious alterations. This paper has as objectives: 1. To evaluate the profile of the painful symptoms that may presumably occur in patients with idiopatic CTS or without CTS; 2. to evaluate the profile of the neuralgic exam in patients with idiopatic CTS. Between April and December of 2002, 35 patients with idiopatic CTS (34 women and one man) with diagnosis confirmed by the clinical and electrophysiological exam were examined. They were paired according to their age and sex with 35 citzens of the general population (34 women and one man, aged between 34 and 72, average 51, +/- 9,7 years old). The frequency of paintful syndromes distribution in the two groups studied was analysed by the square test. The age average in both groups of patients was compared by the t-Student test. There was not statistical difference concerning the ages. In the group with CTS the complaints of pain were prevalent in the neck (45,7%), Phalen`s test (68,5%), and fist compression (74,3%) are common, being the last two ones prevalent ( α = 0,05). The severity of the CTS was evaluated by the eletrophysiological exam. Most of the CTS cases are of light degree and occur bilaterally. Just seven patients have unilateral CTS. Concluding: 1- One must cogitate the CTS diagnosis in every case of pain of obscure origin in the lower limbs, being the location either proximal or distal; 2- Just one of patients with CTS had, clearly, signs of cervical radicular injury. One cannot establish etiological relation between these two conditions. What is told about the existence of double-crush syndrome as a nosological entity; 3- In the neurogical exam, the alteration in the sensibility to pain was the most observed sign. The discriminatitive sensibility test seems not to have value to support the CTS diagnosis; 4- the Phalen and the carpal compression tests are more useful to the CTS diagnosis than the Tinel sign, for they are more prevalent.