Workers' compensation, return to work, and patient satisfaction after carpal tunnel decompression

In the study reported here, we assessed satisfaction and return to work in workers' compensation (WC) patients after carpal tunnel decompression. Eighty of the 362 patients who underwent surgery met the study criteria; 42 of the 80 were found for follow-up; 40 of the 42 participated in the telephone questionnaire; 15 (38%) of the 40 received WC; and 39 (98%) of the 40 returned to work. Mean age of the 40 respondents was 47 years, and mean follow-up was 29 months. WC involvement was not related to return to work and did not affect satisfaction with overall outcome but was related to dissatisfaction with job factors and timing of return to work.