Clinical features influencing the patient-based outcome after carpal tunnel release.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed several clinical features of carpal tunnel syndrome to identify potential prognostic factors influencing a patient-based outcome assessment after carpal tunnel release.


METHODS
We evaluated 102 hands of 64 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome using the Boston self-assessment questionnaire preoperatively and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. The clinical findings evaluated as prognostic indicators were paresthesia, cold intolerance, subjective weakness, nocturnal pain, thenar atrophy, Tinel sign, Phalen test, and electrophysiologic grades. All assessments of outcome were subjective based on the reports of patients, and no objective measurements were obtained to establish improvement after surgery.


RESULTS
The overall symptom and functional scales of the self-assessment questionnaire demonstrated a significant improvement at 3 months after surgery, but no significant further improvement was observed thereafter. Patients with nocturnal pain, patients without subjective weakness, and patients without cold intolerance demonstrated more improvement of the scores in the bivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This information may be used in preoperative consultation regarding the outcome of surgery from the patient's perspective.


METHODS
Prognostic II.
Gong
Hyun Sik
HS
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Oh
Joo Han
JH
Bin
Sung Woo
SW
Kim
Woo Sung
WS
Chung
Moon Sang
MS
Baek
Goo Hyun
GH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires