Detection of 3D Kinetic Trajectory of Median Nerve by Ultrasound Image in the Wrist

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral neuropathic disease caused by chronic compression from daily hand motions In pathological studies fibrosis of subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) surrounding median nerve was found in wrist with CTS Because of the change in kinematic of median nerve caused by abnormal SSCT studies explored the correlation of displacement of median nerve during fingers motion and verified the capability of assessment However these studies focused on kinematic of median nerve in a specific transverse plane Information of relative displacements between transverse planes have not been addressed in our knowledge Thus this study aimed to explore kinetic trajectories of median nerve in different transverse planes and construct 3D model of median nerve motion Wrist measurements were performed on eleven asymptomatic volunteers in 26 1±2 1 years old with 12 MHz frequency ultrasound for kinetic trajectories of median nerve in transverse planes Participants were asked to outstretch arms in supine position for scanning which were performed from 10 mm to 29 mm after wrist crease Scanning data was saved in PC for image tracking which was implemented by Adaptive Bayesian Speckle Tracking The results showed that median nerve moved toward ulnar direction during flexion of fingers in sigmoidal tendency (R2>0 95) The position of median nerve moved toward radial direction in linear tendency (R2>0 95) while scanning position moved proximally In 3D kinetic trajectory median nerve shifted to radial-palmar direction and maintained linear tendency during fingers motion without relative displacement (R2>0 85) This study utilized 12 MHz ultrasound to observe motion of median nerve and quantify the kinetic trajectory in different transverse planes provided a feasible method which may be extensively applied to assess CTS in clinical diagnosis extensively

Date of Award	2015 Aug 27
Original language	English
Supervisor	Shyh-Hau Wang (Supervisor)