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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Increased stiffness of median nerve in systemic sclerosis

Authors: Ilker Yagci, Ozge Kenis-Coskun, Tugba Ozsoy, Gulsen Ozen, Haner Direskeneli

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Systemic sclerosis can affect peripheral nerves, but the extent and the nature of this involvement are not well defined. The aim of this study is to compare the sonoelastrographic measurements of median nerves in systemic sclerosis (SSC), idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and healthy individuals.

Methods

The clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic assessments were done. Patients with SSC and CTS were assessed with nerve conduction studies. The measurements of cross sectional areas (CSA) were performed at psiform and forearm level from axial US images. The elastic ratio is the ratio of strain distribution in two selected region of interests (ROI) done via comparing the median nerve to flexor digitorum superfcialis tendon. The ROIs were fixed to 2 mm.

Results

The study was completed with 47 hands of 24 patients with SSC, 53 hands of 27 patients with CTS and 38 hands of health controls. The CSA of CTS group was significantly higher than systemic sclerosis and control groups. The elastic ratio at psiform level and forearm levels of systemic sclerosis group were significantly higher than the CTS and control groups.

Conclusion

Median nerves lose the elasticity while the CSA’s are in the normal range in patients with SSC. These results suggested that the increased peripheral nerve involvement in SSC is about the increased stiffness of the nerves.
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Metadata
Title
Increased stiffness of median nerve in systemic sclerosis
Authors
Ilker Yagci
Ozge Kenis-Coskun
Tugba Ozsoy
Gulsen Ozen
Haner Direskeneli
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1793-9

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