Carpal tunnel syndrome: issues of diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the typical medical practice management of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), to evaluate the efficiency of surgical treatment, and to identify factors influencing the successful outcomes of surgical treatment.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 85 patients (14 men and 71 women; mean age, 62±10.8 years). Previous diagnosis and treatment of patients were assessed in other healthcare facilities. All patients underwent median nerve decompression. The efficiency of surgical treatment was assessed according to the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and a visual analogue scale for pain before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.Results and discussion. Informative diagnostic tests are rarely performed in patients with CTS, but cervical spine neurovisualization is often unreasonably prescribed. Erroneous diagnoses (predominantly those of cervical spine osteochondrosis (46%), and diabetic neuropathy (6%)) are made frequently (60%) in patients with CTS; the latter receive ineffective treatment for a long time. Surgical treatment in reducing pain and improving hand functionality is noted to be highly effective. The mean BCTQ score decreased from 2.81±0.68 to 1.62±0.55 and 1.24±0.41 at 1 and 12 months, respectively (p<0.05), the mean functional state score dropped from 2.92±0.78 to 2.4±0.72 and 1.46±0.57, respectively (p<0.05). Permanent numbness, subjective weakness, thenar muscle atrophy, Stage III CTS, and diabetes mellitus are predictors for less pronounced improvement in BCTQ scores after surgery (p<0.05).Conclusion. Physicians are noted to be unaware of the manifestations of CTS and effective methods for its diagnosis and treatment. Decompression surgery is shown to be a highly effective procedure in patients with CTS following 1 and 12 months.