title: The Effect of Carpal Tunnel Release on Typing Performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the effect of carpal tunnel release (CTR) on typing performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied 27 patients undergoing open CTR. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics including nerve conduction studies, electromyography results, and duration of symptoms were collected. Before surgery and at 8 time points after surgery, ranging from 1 to 12 weeks, typing performance for an approximately 500-character paragraph was assessed via an on-line platform. The Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire functional component (BCTQ-F) and symptom severity component (BCTQ-S) component were completed before surgery and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery. We used repeated-measures analyses of variance and follow-up dependent-samples t tests to analyze change in typing performance across sessions, and linear regressions to assess relationships between typing performance and demographic and outcome measures. We compared typing speed with the MHQ, BCTQ-F, and BCTQ-S using the Pearson correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average typing speed decreased significantly from 49.7 ± 2.7 words per minute (wpm) before surgery to 45.2 ± 3.1 wpm at 8 to 10 days after surgery. Mean typing speed for the group exceeded the preoperative value between weeks 2 and 3, with continued improvement to 53.5 ± 3.5 wpm at 12 weeks after surgery. No clinical or demographic variables were associated with the rate of recovery or the magnitude of improvement after CTR. The MHQ, BCTQ-F, and BCTQ-S each demonstrated significant improvement from preoperative values over the 12-week period. The MHQ and BCTQ-F scores correlated well with typing speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On average, typing speed returned to preoperative levels between 2 and 3 weeks after CTR and typing speed showed improvement beyond preoperative levels after surgery. The MHQ and BCTQ-F correlate well with typing speed after CTR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Orlando Health Orthopedic Institute, Orlando, FL. Electronic address: Justin.Zumsteg@orlandohealth.com.
authors.forename: Justin W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zumsteg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College of CUNY, Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: Matthew J C
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Gordon D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weikert
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; carpal tunnel surgery; keyboard use; outcomes; typing performance