Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Using Self-Report Measures of Disease to Predict Treatment Response
Jefferson J. Kaye, MD, and John M. Reynolds, MD
Dr. Kaye is Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, Chairman Emeritus, Ochsner Orthopaedic Surgery Department, and Dr. Reynolds was Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, at the time of writing. He is now Staff Orthopaedic Surgeon, Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Initial self-report assessments of symptom severity in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome was retrospectively examined. At initial evaluation, 86 patients completed a self-administered questionnaire previously shown to be reproducible, internally consistent, and responsive to clinical change. Within the next 2 years, 50 patients underwent carpal tunnel release; of the other 36 patients, 23 were managed adequately with conservative treatment alone, and 13 were lost to follow-up. Initial mean symptom severity scores were statistically significantly higher for the surgery group (P = .000012). Significantly higher symptom severity scores on self-administered questionnaires at initial evaluation from patients who eventually undergo carpal tunnel release may be of value in treatment planning.