SynthesisBrain structure & function2024
Altered brain function and structure in carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural and functional brain imaging.
Synthesis in Brain structure & function, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- Crosstalk Between Cortical Plasticity and Peripheral Nervous Injury: Insights, Mechanisms, and Future Directions.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2026Review
- Magnetoencephalography in human neuroscience research: planning, piloting, implementation and quality assurance.Nature protocols · 2026Review
- Altered patterns in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system in female patients with neuropathic pain secondary to recurrent median nerve entrapment post carpal tunnel release.Brain communications · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This systematic review with a meta-analysis aimed to identify the altered brain structure and function in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by summarizing the literature about magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) outcomes compared to healthy controls (HC). CTS is the most common nerve entrapment in the arm associated with altered peripheral and central nociceptive system. PRISMA guidelines were used to report the outcomes. Six databases were searched for relevant literature (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Sage, EBSCO host, and Cochrane). Eligible studies comparing MRI, fMRI, and MEG findings in people with CTS (present for at least 2 months) and HC through the following parameters: (1) interdigit cortical separation distance, (2) white and grey matter changes, (3) peak latency of M20 wave and recovery function of N20 from the somatosensory cortex (SI), and (4) surface area of activated digit cortical representation. The results from different studies were pooled and a meta-analysis was done. From 17 included, there was a significant reduction of interdigit cortical separation distance of index-middle and index-little fingers in the CTS (SMD = - 0.869, 95% CI (- 1.325, - 0.413), p-value = 0.000) and (SMD = - 0.79, 95% CI (- 1.217, - 0.364), p-value = 0.000), respectively. Middle-little fingers interdigit separation showed no difference (SMD = - 0.2, 95% CI (- 0.903, 1.309), p-value = 0.718). There is evidence supporting the altered brain structure and function in CTS as evidenced by reduction of interdigit cortical separation distance, and excessive blurring and disinhibition of SI, with low resting state functional connectivity. Thus, centrally directed therapeutic approaches might complement peripheral treatments.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.