| Summary: | Objective: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common entrapment syndrome which lowers quality of life and is a reason for high costs for health care systems. The algorithm presented in this study may be helpful for surgeons’ decision-making for treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in terms of correct timing and treatment option. Here, the treatment algorithm for carpal tunnel syndrome and its preliminary results are discussed.
Material and Methods: Decision-making for treatment of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients enrolled in this study was performed according to the algorithm presented here, which is based on no thenar atrophy of patients and ability of median nerve innervated thenar muscles. Fifty one hands out of 88 were offered night splinting initially for three weeks while the rest thirty seven hands were operated as an emergent or urgent case without offering night splinting.
Results: Quality of life of all the patients who were operated was improved except one and, awakening at night was disappeared in the postoperative period. 20 hands out of fifty one who were offered night splinting for three weeks were operated for carpal tunnel release since patients felt no improvement in their complaints after three weeks of night splinting.
Conclusion: We believe that, this algorithm will help surgeons in decision-making process, determining the correct timing for surgery, improve patient satisfaction and provide the opportunity for explanation of the need for whichever treatment option is required. The algorithmic approach we use in our cases is based on the examination of no thenar atrophy and ability of median nerve innervated thenar muscles.
|
|---|
