[Problems due to workload after surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome]

The authors present a group of patients operated on account of the carpal tunnel syndrome in 1998-2000 at the Neurosurgical department in Pardubice. The group comprised 37 patients. 15 men and 22 women. The main objective of the retrospective investigation was to assess the period of work incapacity and asset of the operation from the aspect to proceed with the usual workload. The authors also tried to evaluate the effect of age, sex, occupation, preoperative clinical and electromyographic finding on the resulting effect of the operation. The period of work incapacity after one operation was 114 days. 84% patients returned to their original job. In 11% it was necessary to enlist in different work and a disability pension was granted to 5% patients. The discussion is focused on the period of work incapacity, enlistment in work, the effect of operation on the patients complaints and the objective finding as regards the lesion of fibres of the median nerve and also on the asset of EMG in the diagnosis and postoperative follow up.