Correlation between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity in carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity in carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: Cross-sectional correlational study. PATIENTS: Patients with clinical symptoms consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome were recruited from the electrodiagnosis clinic of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, between September 2023 and July 2024. METHODS: Patients underwent electrodiagnostic studies, and the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome was classified as mild, moderate, or severe according to the 2011 criteria of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). Each participant subsequently received a controlled-pressure provocative test. The time to symptom provocation was recorded, with a maximum duration of 30 s. Spearman's rank correlation was used to assess the association between test duration and electrodiagnostic severity. RESULTS: In 124 hands, 31, 45, and 48 hands were categorized by the degree of electrodiagnostic severity as mild, moderate and severe, respectively. There was no correlation (ρ = -0.16, p-value = 0.074) between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity. CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between controlled-pressure provocative test duration and electrodiagnostic severity in patient with carpal tunnel syndrome.