Sonography of Nerve Compression Syndromes

Imaging techniques such as sonography play a crucial role in the diagnosis of compression syndromes of peripheral nerves and complement electrophysiology, which exclusively provides information on the function of peripheral nerves. Certain questions, such as anatomical variants, symptomatic causes like compression by ganglia or osteophytes, and often the assessment of the postoperative course after procedures, can only be answered with the help of imaging. The sonography of peripheral nerves is gaining more and more relevance for this, which is also due to the usually easy availability and the low cost of the procedure. The quality of sonographic diagnostics has rapidly evolved in recent years due to the development of computer technology and ultrasound probes with up to 24 MHz and matrix technology, so that assessment at the fascicle level is now possible. A sound sonographic assessment requires sufficient technical equipment on the one hand, but on the other hand, anatomical knowledge and experience in the evaluation of findings by the examiner are decisive factors.