title: Protocol of outcome evaluation for surgical release of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose and apply a protocol for assessing the outcome of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protocol included a patient questionnaire that was self-administered before and 1 and 6 months after the operation to assess severity of symptoms (Boston questionnaire) and staging according to clinical (Giannini) and electrophysiological (Padua) severity scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of a prospective series of 323 hands undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome by the mini-incision of the palm technique are reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method was found to be valid, precise, reliable, and straightforward, enabling a comparison of the results from different patient series and different operating techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Senese, Siena, Italy. mondelli@unisi.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginanneschi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sicurelli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors