A prognostic model for the patient-reported outcome of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Many prognostic factors have been studied in carpal tunnel decompression, but most studies consider only a subset of variables.

Methods: Three thousand three hundred thirty-two operations were used to develop prognostic models, and 885 operations were used for validation. Outcome recorded on a Likert scale was dichotomized into success or failure.

Prospective analysis of the accuracy of diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome using a web-based questionnaire.

Objective: To confirm the accuracy of a diagnostic questionnaire for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) when presented via a public website rather than on paper.

Design: Prospective comparison of the probability of CTS as assessed by the web-based questionnaire at http://www.carpal-tunnel.

Ultrasound imaging of the median nerve as a prognostic factor for carpal tunnel decompression.

Introduction: The diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging in carpal tunnel syndrome is established, but reports on its prognostic value have been contradictory.

Methods: This investigation was an observational study of subjective surgical results, evaluated by symptom severity and functional status scales, and an ordinal scale for overall outcome, for 145 carpal tunnel decompressions in relation to preoperative measurement of median nerve cross-sectional area.

Results: The surgical success rate was 86%.

Questionnaire tools for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome from the patient history.

Introduction: There remains no "gold standard" for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Clinical diagnosis is often held to be paramount but depends on the skills of the individual practitioner. We describe two mathematical approaches to the analysis of a history obtained by questionnaire.

Clinical surveillance of carpal tunnel syndrome in two areas of the United Kingdom, 1991-2001.

Objective: To study the demographic characteristics of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and changes in incidence over time.

Methods: Prospective collection of neurophysiological and clinical data on all patients presenting to the subregional department of clinical neurophysiology in Canterbury, UK, from 1992 to 2001 and to the electromyography clinic in St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield, UK, from 1991 to 1993.

Results: 6245 new cases of neurophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome were identified in Canterbury and 590 in Huddersfield.