The effect of unilateral carpal tunnel release on the non-operated contralateral hand.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is often (60-90%) a bilateral condition. It has been suggested that patients with bilateral disease may benefit in the non-operated hand after unilateral surgery.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of unilateral carpal tunnel release on the non-operated contralateral hand.

Material And Methods: In 186 patients with bilateral CTS, a number of measurements were performed prior to surgery. The patients were scheduled for surgery on the other hand operation 3 months after the first. Upon admission, the same measurements were performed on the still unoperated hand.

Results: All subjective variables were significantly better in the hand scheduled for operation as compared to the second one. Pain intensity was lower by a mean of 0.8 on a numeric rating scale (NRS); Levine symptom and function scores were lower by a mean of 0.7 and 0.3, respectively. Digital sensibility and grip strength were also better, but the changes were without clinical or statistical significance. Asked directly about the status of the non-operated hand, 109 patients (64%) reported improvement, 40 (23%) noted no change and 21 (13%) deterioration.

Conclusions: Regardless of the reasons for improvement, this study demonstrates that 64% of patients feel partial relief in the non-operated hand after unilateral carpal tunnel release.