Stevens CTS Scale · Electrodiagnostic Severity Grading
Select Diagnostic Findings
Nerve Profile
Guidelines & Evidence
Verified
Last Review: 2026
When to Use
When to Use
Grade electrodiagnostic severity of carpal tunnel syndrome from NCS data
Stratify CTS for conservative vs. surgical management based on NCS severity
Document baseline severity before intervention for outcomes tracking
Correlate electrophysiological findings with clinical symptoms (BCTQ) and examination
Inform surgical urgency — Severe/Extreme grades require prompt referral to prevent permanent axonal loss
Background
The Stevens classification (1997) is the most widely cited electrodiagnostic grading system for CTS. It uses median nerve sensory latency, motor distal latency, and sensory/motor amplitude to classify severity into 6 grades: Normal, Minimal, Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Extreme. It is not the same as clinical severity and should always be interpreted alongside patient-reported symptoms (BCTQ) and examination findings.
Related Scores in Practice
In clinical practice, this assessment is frequently evaluated alongside other validated measures. Depending on the patient's presentation and specific diagnostic requirements, you may also need to utilize the Boston Cts Questionnaire, NCS Reference Values Interpreter, Ulnar Mcgowan Grading or the Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) Grading to formulate a comprehensive care plan.
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026