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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Predictors of the patient-centered outcomes of surgical carpal tunnel release – a prospective cohort study

Authors: Catharina Conzen, Michael Conzen, Nicole Rübsamen, Rafael Mikolajczyk

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) causes a substantial burden of disease in society. While CTS can be resolved by surgical carpal tunnel release, it still remains unclear as to what degree outcomes depend on patients’ characteristics. This study assesses patient-centered outcomes after surgical carpal tunnel release in a large outpatient clinic in Germany.

Methods

Patients with CTS were recruited prospectively between August 1st and December 31st, 2013. We assessed socio-demographic and psychological factors as well as nerve conduction velocities at baseline (before the surgery) and at three and six months after surgery. We analyzed the improvement of patient-centered outcomes (symptoms and function of the affected hand as well as measures of well-being and subjective quality of life) at the two follow-up time points and investigated if socio-demographic characteristics and CTS-related variables predict the success of the surgery with respect to nerve conduction velocities and patient-centered outcomes by means of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Factors influencing the duration of sick leave were investigated by means of Cox regression.

Results

The study sample consisted of 71 CTS cases. Surgical carpal tunnel release generally improved nerve conduction velocity and patient-centered outcomes. Regarding the former, the improvement was proportional to the severity score at baseline. The presence of muscular atrophy in the thenar area at baseline displayed medium size effects for the patient-centered outcomes. Other socio-demographic characteristics and CTS-related variables did not have a strong predictive effect on the improvement of nerve conduction velocity and patient-centered outcomes.

Conclusions

There is a significant improvement of clinical and subjective outcomes after CTS surgery in the outpatient sector. The improvement is largely independent of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients.
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Metadata
Title
Predictors of the patient-centered outcomes of surgical carpal tunnel release – a prospective cohort study
Authors
Catharina Conzen
Michael Conzen
Nicole Rübsamen
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-016-1046-3

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