Factors that Predict the Response to Treatment in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Carpal tunnel release is a very common surgery and most people do very well after the surgery but some preexisting conditions can have a negative impact on the outcome of the surgery. Our current knowledge about the impact of these conditions on the outcome of carpal tunnel release is incomplete. Aim: To find out the various factors that could affect the outcome of the carpal tunnel release. Materials and Methods: The present study was a retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent open carpal tunnel decompression and the study evaluates the effect of preexisting factors like age, sex, duration of symptoms, BMI, Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS), alcohol, smoking status and comorbid conditions like diabetes, depression and fibromyalgia on the outcome of surgery. Chi-square analysis was carried out to find out the relationship between the final outcome and each variable. A p-value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Age, sex, duration of symptoms, BMI, NCS, alcohol and smoking status and comorbid conditions like diabetes, and depression were not found to be associated with the outcome. Fibromyalgia was found to be significantly associated with poor outcome. Conclusion: Carpal tunnel release consistently gives good outcomes and must be offered to the patients who have failed conservative treatment, irrespective of the factors like age, sex, duration of symptoms, BMI, NCS, diabetes, and depression. Patients with fibromyalgia must be warned pre-operatively about the possibility of inferior results following the surgery.

Keywords

• carpal tunnel release
• fibromyalgia
• outcome
• retrospective study