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Updated: Nov 18, 2025
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Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
912
Sickness absence after carpal tunnel release: a multicentre prospective cohort study
Lisa Newington1,2, Georgia Ntani3, David Warwick4
1MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK l.newington@nhs.net.
BMJ Open
|February 11, 2021
Summary
Patients return to work at varying times after carpal tunnel release surgery. Preoperative expectations strongly influence return-to-work duration, and earlier returns are not harmful.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Occupational Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery is common, but return-to-work timelines vary significantly.
- Understanding factors influencing work absence duration is crucial for patient recovery and economic impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine return-to-work patterns after elective CTR.
- To identify factors associated with the duration of sickness absence post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Multicentre prospective observational cohort study involving 201 participants.
- Data collected preoperatively and via weekly diaries and questionnaires up to 12 weeks postoperatively.
- Main outcome: duration of work absence from surgery to first return to work.
Main Results:
- Median work absence was 20 days (range 1-99 days).
- Earlier return to work associated with primary care surgery and >4 hours daily computer use.
- Female gender and longer paid sick leave entitlement correlated with longer absences.
Conclusions:
- Work absence duration after CTR is complex, influenced by occupational, demographic, and clinical factors.
- Preoperative patient expectations strongly predict actual work absence duration.
- Clinicians should provide evidence-informed guidance on return-to-work timelines to manage expectations and potentially reduce unnecessary absence.
