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A Prospective Assessment of Carpal Tunnel Surgery with Respect to AgeFrom The Curtis National Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, M, USA and The Pulvertaft Hand Centre, Derby, UK Correspondence: Corresponding author. Shaw Wilgis, MD, c/o Anne Rupert Mattson, Editor, Curtis National Hand Center, Union Memorial Hospital, 3333 N. Calvert Street, #200, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. Tel.: +410 261 8413; fax: +410 554 4363. E-mail: anne.mattson{at}medstar.net Six hundred and thirty five carpal tunnel decompressions in 490 patients were studied prospectively in two hand surgery centres to assess the effect of increasing age on the outcome after surgery. The outcome was assessed using the Levine–Katz carpal tunnel questionnaire, Tinel’s sign, Phalen’s test, Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments and pinch and grip strengths. Assessments were made pre-operatively, at 2 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Information was also sought concerning co-morbid conditions. Cases were divided into four groups (less than 40 years of age, 40 to 60, 61 to 80, and over 80 years of age). Patients improved significantly in all age groups after carpal tunnel surgery. Despite a relatively high number of co-morbidities, older patients had an acceptable complication rate and their improvement was comparable to all other age groups.
Key Words: age • carpal tunnel • outcome
Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 31, No. 4,
401-406 (2006) |
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