PREDICTORS OF RETURN TO WORK FOLLOWING CARPAL-TUNNEL RELEASE

Little is known about factors that predict return to work following ca rpal tunnel release. Patients enrolled in a prospective, community-bas ed study of carpal tunnel syndrome in Maine were evaluated with standa rdized questionnaires preoperatively and 6 months following carpal tun nel release. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to id entify, baseline factors associated with work disability 6 months foll owing surgery. Thirty-one of 135 patients (23%) were out of work becau se of CTS 6 months following surgery. The predominant preoperative var iables associated with work absence due to CTS 6 months postoperativel y in logistic regression analyses were Workers' Compensation, work abs ence preoperatively, and worse mental health status (p less than or eq ual to 0.01 for each). In analyses that considered postoperative as we ll as preoperative variables, persistence of symptoms following surger y was the most striking predictor of failure to return to work due to CTS (p < 0.0001). Preoperative correlates of less complete relief of s ymptoms in multivariate models included involvement of art attorney, m ilder preoperative symptom severity, preoperative work absence (p < 0. 005 for each) and exposure to hand intensive work (p = 0.04). These de lta indicate that economic and psychosocial variables have a strong in fluence upon both return to work and the extent of symptom relief 6 mo nths following surgery far carpal tunnel syndrome. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss , Inc.