title: Carpal tunnel syndrome: hand surgeons, hand therapists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians agree on a multidisciplinary treatment guideline—results from the European HANDGUIDE Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To achieve consensus on a multidisciplinary treatment guideline for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Delphi consensus strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic reviews reporting on the effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical interventions were conducted and used as an evidence-based starting point for a European Delphi consensus strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 35 experts (hand surgeons selected from the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand, hand therapists selected from the European Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians) participated in the Delphi consensus strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each Delphi round consisted of a questionnaire, analysis, and feedback report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 Delphi rounds, consensus was achieved on the description, symptoms, and diagnosis of CTS. The experts agreed that patients with CTS should always be instructed, and instructions combined with splinting, corticosteroid injection, corticosteroid injections plus splinting, and surgery are suitable treatments for CTS. Relevant details for the use of instructions, splinting, corticosteroid injections, and surgery were described. Main factors for selecting one of the aforementioned treatment options were identified as follows: severity and duration of the disorder and previous treatments received. A relation between the severity/duration and choice of therapy was found by the experts and reported in the guideline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This multidisciplinary treatment guideline may help physicians and allied health care professionals to provide patients with CTS with the most effective and efficient treatment available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sports, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: b.m.a.huisstede@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Bionka M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Huisstede
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fridén
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Henk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Coert
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoogvliet
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D032921:Consensus; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D013165:Splints
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Consensus; Rehabilitation; Splints; Surgical procedures, operative