Retrospective Study On The Value Of Ultrasound In Diagnosis Of The Proper Palmar Digital Nerve Neuropathy

Purpose:Retrospective study was conducted to analyze the value of ultrasound imaging of the proper palmar digital nerve(PPDN),including the identification and display of normal and abnormal nerve structures,and the classification of ultrasound manifestations of abnormal nerve sonography,so as to provide a reference for clinical application of neuropathy.Methods:The study included 100 subjects who underwent ultrasound PPDN examination at the Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University or the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2016 and 2021.The basic data of the subjects,the imaging status of PPDN and related image features were collected,and the characteristics of different ultrasound images were statistically analyzed.Results:Ultrasonography could clearly identify and show PPDN of100 patients(110 nerves).The transverse section showed that the nerve bundles with low echo were surrounded by the epineurium and perineurium with high echo,and the inner part was sieve-like.The longitudinal section showed parallel line echo.Among 110 cases,100(90.91%)had abnormal manifestations.The most common abnormal neurosonogram is nerve thickening.The average maximum cross-sectional area of the thickest area of PPDN in 36 cases and area of normal site in 26 cases recorded were3.00mm~2(2.00-5.75mm~2)and 1.00mm~2(1.00-2.00mm~2);left-right diameter were2.45mm(1.90-3.30mm)and1.50mm(1.20-1.80mm);anteroposteriordiameterwere1.80mm(1.40-2.45mm)and1.10mm(0.88-1.40mm)respectively.The difference were all significant between the two groups respectively(P<0.05).Conclusions:Although PPDN is small,ultrasound can clearly identify and display the normal and damaged nerve.Nerve thickening is the most common abnormal sonogram in ultrasound.Ultrasound images of different types has a good application value in the clinical diagnosis and follow-up of neuropathy,which is worthy of promotion.