A retrospective follow-up study of the postoperative outcomes of late stage carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Objective To assess the postoperative outcomes of 56 cases of late stage carpal tunnel syndrome through retrospective follow-up studies and provide treatment guidelines. Methods A retrospective study of 56 cases of late stage carpal tunnel syndrome (thenar muscle atrophy + + + or more) that were surgically treated from February 2010 to December 2011 was conducted. The recovery of thenar muscle atrophy, thenar muscle strength and sensation of the radial three digits was assessed. Results Postoperative follow-up period of these 56 cases ranged from 50 to 71 months, with an average of 64 months. Atrophy of the thenar muscles was entirely reversed in 28 cases (50%) and reversed to (+ + ) in 8 cases (14.3%). No change of thenar muscle atrophy was seen in 20 cases (35.7%). Complete sensory recovery was observed in 51 cases, while the rest 5 cases had near normal sensation. The overall excellent and good rate of postoperative hand function recovery was 85.7%. Conclusion Carpal tunnel release is effective in 85.7% of late stage carpal tunnel syndrome patients. The decision to perform thumb opponensplasty at the same time should be made based on the requirements of individual patients. Key words: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Follow-up studies; Treatment outcome