OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) structure and its relation to nerve conduction studies (NCS). METHODS: A total of 403 patients with clinical and/or electrophysiological definition of CTS were evaluated with the instrument. The structure of the questionnaire was assessed by means of factor analysis. Factors obtained were compared with NCS. RESULTS: Factor analysis showed that three factors represented nearly 60% of the variance of the instrument. Factor one is related to all the function domain questions and to the weakness and difficulty in grasping questions of the symptom domain; factor two to questions that assess numbness and tingling, and to the pain-awakening question of the symptom domain; and factor three, to pain questions of the symptom domain. Factor two had a stronger correlation with latencies of NCS and with the neurophysiological scale than the other two factors. CONCLUSIONS: BCTQ assesses function and symptoms in patients with CTS by means of questions related to numbness and tingling sensation, pain and functional status. Questions related to numbness and tingling (factor two) better reflected the pathophysiology of the median nerve. SIGNIFICANCE: Factor-2 sensory-related questions of BCTQ may be more useful in diagnosis, follow-up and assessing therapeutic outcome in CTS.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) structure and its relation to nerve conduction studies (NCS). METHODS: A total of 403 patients with clinical and/or electrophysiological definition of CTS were evaluated with the instrument. The structure of the questionnaire was assessed by means of factor analysis. Factors obtained were compared with NCS. RESULTS: Factor analysis showed that three factors represented nearly 60% of the variance of the instrument. Factor one is related to all the function domain questions and to the weakness and difficulty in grasping questions of the symptom domain; factor two to questions that assess numbness and tingling, and to the pain-awakening question of the symptom domain; and factor three, to pain questions of the symptom domain. Factor two had a stronger correlation with latencies of NCS and with the neurophysiological scale than the other two factors. CONCLUSIONS: BCTQ assesses function and symptoms in patients with CTS by means of questions related to numbness and tingling sensation, pain and functional status. Questions related to numbness and tingling (factor two) better reflected the pathophysiology of the median nerve. SIGNIFICANCE: Factor-2 sensory-related questions of BCTQ may be more useful in diagnosis, follow-up and assessing therapeutic outcome in CTS.
Authors: Matthew S Thiese; Fred Gerr; Kurt T Hegmann; Carisa Harris-Adamson; Ann Marie Dale; Bradley Evanoff; Ellen A Eisen; Jay Kapellusch; Arun Garg; Susan Burt; Stephen Bao; Barbara Silverstein; Linda Merlino; David Rempel Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2014-08-28 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Margreet Meems; Viola Spek; Willem J Kop; Berend-Jan Meems; Leo H Visser; Victor J M Pop Journal: Trials Date: 2017-10-10 Impact factor: 2.279