Outcomes of open carpal tunnel decompression

Area of Science:

• Hand Surgery
• Neurology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent peripheral neuropathy in the UK.
• Open carpal tunnel decompression is a common surgical intervention for CTS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient satisfaction following open carpal tunnel decompression.
• To evaluate postoperative symptoms, including numbness and tingling.
• To identify factors influencing surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A 6-section questionnaire was administered to 241 eligible participants.
• Demographic information, and pre- and postoperative symptoms were quantified.
• Katz hand diagrams were used to map symptom locations.
• Symptom severity and quality of life scores were assessed.

Main Results:

• 89 usable responses were analyzed.
• 80.9% of patients showed symptomatic improvement post-surgery.
• 19.1% of patients experienced persistent symptoms.
• Persistent symptoms were associated with older age, female gender, unemployment, and lower mental health and vitality scores.
• Lower mental health scores showed a potential correlation with poorer surgical response (p=0.096).

Conclusions:

• The majority of patients experience positive outcomes from open carpal tunnel decompression.
• Preoperative screening for mental health conditions like depression may be beneficial.
• A holistic preoperative assessment, including mental health evaluation, could enhance surgical outcomes.