Carpal tunnel syndrome at Jordan University Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To assess the age and sex distribution, risk factors, clinical, nerve conduction study findings and treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) seen at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) and compare the results with Western and Middle/Far Eastern studies. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 150 patients with CTS seen at Jordan University Hospital ( JUH) over a one-year-period (January 2019-January 2020). Results: The mean age of the patients = 52 years (range 16-86), 121 females, 29 males. The most common predisposing factors were stressful manual work followed by diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism. The most frequent symptoms were nocturnal hand paresthesiae. The respective sensitivities of Tinel and Phalen signs were 30 and 33%. The diagnostic yield of nerve conduction studies (NCS) ranged between 19 and 56% and the most sensitive NCS technique was the median palm-to-wrist (PW) technique with a yield of 56%. Fifty-two percent of the hands with electrophysiological CTS were moderate and severe. One hundred and thirty six patients received conservative treatment and 14 underwent surgical decompression. Conclusion: Compared to other studies, there was a high proportion of young patients with, however, similar clinical symptoms and risk factors. The majority of the patients had moderate and severe CTS despite the absence of heavy manual industrial labour in Jordan.