Subjective and employment outcome following secondary carpal tunnel surgery.
Forty-five patients (50 hands) who had undergone secondary carpal tunnel surgery participated in a telephone questionnaire survey. The mean follow-up time from the second carpal tunnel surgery was 31 months (range, 9-92 mo). Only 24 patients (53%) reported significant improvement in their symptoms. Thirty-nine patients were unemployed workers who had experienced an average time off work of 28.7 months (+/- 4) before their secondary carpal tunnel surgery. Eleven of the 39 previously unemployed workers (28%) returned to work after the secondary carpal tunnel surgery. Factors associated with poor subjective and employment outcome included worker's compensation case involvement (p < 0.003). Occupations associated with repetitive hand movements or vibrating tools were associated with poor employment outcomes (p < 0.006). Although secondary surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome can be effective in relieving symptoms, patients and surgeons must have realistic expectations of the procedure, especially with respect to long-term employment goals.
Strasberg
S R
SR
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.
Novak
C B
CB
Mackinnon
S E
SE
Murray
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012008:Recurrence; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors