PREDICTION OF THE OUTCOME 24 HOURS AFTER CARPAL-TUNNEL DECOMPRESSION

A prospective study has been performed on 47 wrists treated by surgica l decompression for carpal tunnel syndrome. In all cases where there w as symptomatic relief within the first 24 hours post-operatively, a go od or excellent outcome was obtained when the patients were reviewed s ix weeks after surgery. If subjective improvement was not obtained by 24 hours, a good outcome was still possible but a poor outcome became more likely.