Carpal tunnel syndrome: report of 430 operations

Analyzed are data on 430 operations in 326 patients for median nerve compression at the wrist. Follow-up data from a patient self-evaluation questionnaire were available for 71% of patients. Incidence was highest in the fifth and sixth decades of life, and 65% of patients were female. For most patients, symptoms were worse at night or with excessive hand use or both. Self-evaluation questionnaires showed total relief of symptoms after operation in 51% of cases, 75% or greater improvement in 31%, and 50% or greater improvement in 10%. The dominant hand was more severely involved in two thirds of the patients and 78% of patients had occupations involving considerable use of their hands, suggesting that an occupational factor might be involved in the genesis or aggravation of median nerve compression.