CONSENSUS CRITERIA FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME IN EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES

Criteria for the classification of carpal tunnel syndrome for use in e pidemiologic studies were developed by means of a consensus process. T welve medical researchers with experience in conducting epidemiologic studies of carpal tunnel syndrome participated in the process. The gro up reached agreement on Several conceptual issues. First, there is no perfect gold standard for carpal tunnel syndrome. The combination of e lectrodiagnostic study findings and symptom characteristics will provi de the most accurate information for classification of carpal tunnel s yndrome. Second, use of only electrodiagnostic study findings is not r ecommended. Finally, in the absence of electrodiagnostic studies, spec ific combinations of symptom characteristics and physical examination findings may be useful in some settings but are likely to result in gr eater misclassification of disease status.