- Academic Editor
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Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent condition
during gestation. The recent ability of ultrasound to provide comparable results
with electrodiagnostic tests (EDx) has opened the door for investigating new
parameters. The objective of this investigation is to explore the clinical
importance of a new anthropometric independent parameter called the nerve/tendon
ratio (NTR) when compared to EDx and to determine whether it has the utility to
be used in clinical practice. Methods: In this prospective case-control
study conducted between April 2023 and September 2023, 160 pregnant women
displaying clinical symptoms of CTS who presented to the outpatient clinic
underwent evaluation employing the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Visual
Analog Scale, and provocative tests (Phalen and Tinnel). The pregnant women with
clinical symptoms were divided into two groups: those with positive CTS in the
EDx results (mild/moderate/severe) and those without EDx findings (control
group). All pregnant women participating in the study had their median nerve
cross-sectional area (MN-CSA), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and MN-CSA/FCR ratio
(expressed as a percentage called NTR) values examined. The sonographers were
unaware of the clinical and EDx results. Subsequently, the data were examined
utilizing logistic regression models, with a significance threshold established
at p