A PRELIMINARY SCORING SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING THE OUTCOME OF CARPAL-TUNNEL RELEASE

Multiple outcomes are assessed in most studies of carpal tunnel syndro me, yet there are no validated methods of synthesizing these distinct measures into a single global score. We report a global score in which outcomes were selected and weighted according to their independent as sociation with patient satisfaction with the results of surgery. Preop erative and 3-month follow-up data were analyzed on 104 subjects in a randomized controlled trial of open vs endoscopic carpal tunnel releas e. Patient satisfaction with surgery and a variety of subjective and o bjective outcome parameters were measured. In multivariate analyses, i ndependent correlates of dissatisfaction included persistent numbness and paresthesia, incisional pain at follow-up evaluation, and decrease in grip strength. A global score was calculated by rounding to the ne arest integer the model coefficients for these three variables. The gl obal score correlated with patient satisfaction with surgery and time until return to work or full activities in patients undergoing open ca rpal tunnel release.