title: A prospective study of prognostic factors for duration of sick leave after endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic carpal tunnel release with a single portal technique has been shown to reduce sick leave compared to open carpal tunnel release, claiming to be a less invasive procedure and reducing scar tenderness leading to a more rapid return to work, and the purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors for prolonged sick leave after endoscopic carpal tunnel release in a group of employed Danish patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was a prospective study including 75 employed patients with carpal tunnel syndrome operated with ECTR at two hospitals. The mean age was 46 years (SD 10.1), the male/female ratio was 0.42, and the mean preoperative duration of symptoms 10 months (range 6-12). Only 21 (28%) were unable to work preoperatively and mean sick leave was 4 weeks (range 1-4). At base-line and at the 3-month follow-up, a self-administered questionnaire was collected concerning physical, psychological, and social circumstances in relation to the hand problem. Data from a nerve conduction examination were collected at baseline and at the 3-month follow-up. Significant prognostic factors were identified through multiple logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the operation, the mean functional score was reduced from 2.3 to 1.4 (SD 0.8) and the mean symptom score from 2.9 to 1.5 (SD 0.7). The mean sick leave from work after the operation was 19.8 days (SD 14.3). Eighteen patients (24%) had more than 21 days of sick leave. Two patients (3%) were still unable to work after 3 months. Significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis for more than 21 days of postoperative sick leave were preoperative sick leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem and a preoperative distal motor latency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative sick leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem, and a preoperative distal nerve conduction motor latency were prognostic factors for postoperative work absence of more than 21 days. Other factors may be important (clinical, demographic, economic, and workplace) in explaining the great variance in the results of sick leave after carpal tunnel release between studies from different countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Section of Hand Surgery, Regional Hospital Holstebro, Laegaardvej 12, DK-7500 Holstebro, Denmark. tbhansen@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Torben Baek
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalsgaard
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meldgaard
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D003718:Denmark; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome