OBJECTIVE: To assess the course of untreated carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: The Italian CTS Study Group prospectively followed up (10 to 15 months) 196 untreated patients (274 hands) with idiopathic CTS with multiple measurements of CTS. Baseline factors were used to predict the evolution of untreated CTS in multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Comparison of baseline and follow-up data showed a significant spontaneous improvement of patient-oriented and neurophysiologic measurements. A significant correlation between evolution and initial severity of CTS was observed. CTS measurements improved in patients with more severe initial impairment whereas they worsened in patients with milder initial impairment. The main positive prognostic factor was short duration of symptoms. Similarly, spontaneous improvement was more frequently associated with young age. Conversely, baseline bilateral symptoms and positive Phalen predicted a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients with CTS improve spontaneously without surgical treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the course of untreated carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: The Italian CTS Study Group prospectively followed up (10 to 15 months) 196 untreated patients (274 hands) with idiopathic CTS with multiple measurements of CTS. Baseline factors were used to predict the evolution of untreated CTS in multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Comparison of baseline and follow-up data showed a significant spontaneous improvement of patient-oriented and neurophysiologic measurements. A significant correlation between evolution and initial severity of CTS was observed. CTS measurements improved in patients with more severe initial impairment whereas they worsened in patients with milder initial impairment. The main positive prognostic factor was short duration of symptoms. Similarly, spontaneous improvement was more frequently associated with young age. Conversely, baseline bilateral symptoms and positive Phalen predicted a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients with CTS improve spontaneously without surgical treatment.
Authors: Martin Cherniack; Anthony J Brammer; Ronnie Lundstrom; Tim F Morse; Greg Neely; Tohr Nilsson; Donald Peterson; Esko Toppila; Nicholas Warren; Ulysses Diva; Marc Croteau; Jeffrey Dussetschleger Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2007-10-02 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Bradley Evanoff; Bethany T Gardner; Jaime R Strickland; Skye Buckner-Petty; Alfred Franzblau; Ann Marie Dale Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2016-02-23 Impact factor: 2.214