title: Predictors of scar pain after open carpal tunnel release.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the predictors of scar pain after open carpal tunnel release (CTR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 83 patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome treated by open CTR. All patients completed the Brigham and Women's (Boston) carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ) preoperatively. We assessed levels of depression preoperatively using the Center for the Epidemiological Study of Depression (CES-D) scale, and pain anxiety using the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale. At 3 months after surgery, patients were asked to self-assess treatment satisfaction and scar pain using a 10-point ordinal scale and to complete the BCTQ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean BCTQ-symptom (BCTQ-S) score decreased significantly from 2.7 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 1.6 ± 1.0 at 3 months postoperatively, and mean BCTQ-function score decreased significantly from 2.4 ± 1.1 to 1.4 ± 1.0. Overall, scar pain intensity at 3 months postoperatively ranged from 0 to 8 (mean, 2.4 ± 2.2), and overall satisfaction ranged from 2 to 10 (mean, 7.6 ± 2.6). The intensity of the scar pain was significantly correlated with the CES-D scale and BCTQ-S. Multivariable regression analysis showed that depression, assessed using the CES-D scale, and postoperative symptoms, assessed using the BCTQ-S, predicted scar pain intensity, which accounted for 38% of scar pain intensity variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression score and postoperative symptoms predicted scar pain intensity after open CTR. However, the most important contributor to scar pain intensity variance remains unidentified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea. kimjk@ewha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jae Kwang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: You Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires