Outcomes of carpal tunnel surgery in patients with and without medical comorbidities with special attention to quality of life

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of carpal tunnel surgery in patients with and without medical comorbidities typical in this age range, with particular attention to evaluation of their quality of life. The outcomes of carpal tunnel release at 6 months after operation in 128 patients, 70 (55%) with and 58 (45%) without comorbidities were compared. The measurements were performed preoperatively and at 6 months after the operation and included pain intensity, grip strength, sensation, hand dexterity with the Levine and quality of life with the RAND SF-36 questionnaires. Results. At baseline, the patients with comorbidities had significantly poorer hand function and reduced perception of light touch. Carpal tunnel release resulted in significant improvement for all patients, although outcomes at 6 months were less favorable for those with comorbidities in terms of quality of life and general health status. This however does not mean that the presence of the comorbidities is prejudicial to the outcome of CTS surgery.