Provocative testing in the diagnosis of dynamic carpal tunnel syndrome

This study measures the effects of provocative testing on a series of patients with latent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Forty patients were studied for change in hand volume and loss of sensibility after stress. Thirty-four patients demonstrated significant measurable increase in hand volume after a 7-minute stress test. In 17 of 34 patients impaired sensibility associated with swelling developed and they were considered to have dynamic carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgical treatment was effective in correcting symptoms and sensory defects in these 17 individuals despite postoperative hand swelling that continued after the operation when the hand was subjected to stress.