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Updated: Oct 9, 2026
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Correlation of Self-efficacy with Short-term Outcome after Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter
Karolina A Protas1, Mauritz Linus Püllen2, Maurice Püllen3
1Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Objective:
Carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery provides rapid symptom relief, however the prognostic role of cognitive factors such as self-efficacy remains unclear. The objective of this study was to examine, in an exploratory manner, whether preoperative general self-efficacy (GSE) is associated with functional outcomes, complications, and return-to-work time following CTR.
Design:
Prospective multicenter observational cohort study of 58 adults with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome undergoing CTR at three outpatient sites (August 2023-October 2025). Preoperative GSE (Schwarzer-Jerusalem scale, 10-40) was correlated with postoperative Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTSQ-SSS) and Functional Status Scale (BCTSQ-FSS) scores using Spearman's rho and linear mixed models. Secondary outcomes included complications and return-to-work time.
Results:
Mean preoperative GSE was 32.1 ± 5.4. Higher GSE was weakly associated with better BCTSQ outcomes in unadjusted analysis (SSS: rho=-0.29, P=0.03; FSS: rho=-0.26, P=0.04). In adjusted linear mixed models (age, sex, center), GSE remained associated with better BCTSQ-FSS (P=0.037) but not with symptom severity, magnitude of change over time or with return-to-work time (rho=0.19, P=0.34). Wound healing complications occurred in 6.9% (n=4).
Conclusion:
GSE alone is not an independent prognostic factor but may be one component of a multifactorial recovery process.
