title: Is carpal tunnel release under-utilized in veterans with spinal cord injury?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Although carpal tunnel release is highly effective, the procedure may be under-utilized in this population. This study attempts to identify if CTS is under-treated  in Veterans with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Veterans Affairs (VA) National Patient Care Database was used for data compilation within fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Using ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes, individuals with SCIs were identified, including those diagnosed with CTS. Current procedural  terminology (CPT) codes further showed those who had undergone surgical intervention including open and endoscopic release of the transverse carpal ligament. The VA SCI cohort was compared to the general VA population with regard to demographics, diagnosis, surgical intervention, and treatment  location.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 296 veterans with SCI were identified within the 2-year period. The prevalence of CTS within this cohort was 3.5%, compared to 2.1% in the general VA population. The rate of transverse carpal ligament release was similar between the  VA SCI cohort and general population (0.24 and 0.17%, respectively). The majority of surgical treatment (89%) occurred within the VA 'hub-and-spoke' system of SCI care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTS appears to be under-diagnosed and under-treated in veterans with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Curtin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult