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L. Manganaro MD1, G. Manente MD2, T. Staniscia MD3, L. Bertini MD1, S. Lanciotti MD1, F. Romano MD, MSc3, A. Uncini MD4 1Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University ìLa Sapienzaî, Rome, 2Neurology Operative Unit, Ospedale Civile, Vasto (Chieti), 3Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, University ìG. díAnnunzioî, Chieti, 4Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, University ìG. díAnnunzioî, Chieti - Italy ABSTRACT Background. Manente and coll. have recently developed an innovative soft hand brace called Manu® for conservative treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS); a randomised controlled study showed that this hand brace, if worn at night for one month, is highly efficient in relieving symptoms and functional loss in CTS patients. Objective. This study aims at evaluating, through the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the changes in the carpal tunnel in CTS patients and controls wearing Manu®, the innovative soft hand brace for CTS. Methods. 13 subjects (9 suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and 4 controls) were enrolled in the study. T1 and STIR sequences were performed using an 0.2 T E-Scan. Some morphologic parameters (tunnel diameters and area, carpus length and nerve signal intensity) were measured at three different scanning levels. The evaluation was carried out before and after the application of the brace. Results. Remarkable differences were recorded in the measurements performed before and after the application of the brace. Special attention should be paid to the constant increase of the front-rear diameter and the tunnel shape rounding. These data could explain the lighter symptoms as a result of the use of the brace. Conclusions. The Manu® hand brace increases the carpal tunnel front-rear diameter rounding the tunnel shape, hence the clinical efficacy in CTS. Correspondence
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