Abstract
Background: Endoscopic carpal tunnel release with a single portal technique has been shown to
reduce sick leave compared to open carpal tunnel release, claiming to be a less invasive procedure
and reducing scar tenderness leading to a more rapid return to work, and the purpose of this study
was to identify prognostic factors for prolonged sick leave after endoscopic carpal tunnel release
in a group of employed Danish patients.
Methods: The design was a prospective study including 75 employed patients with carpal tunnel
syndrome operated with ECTR at two hospitals. The mean age was 46 years (SD 10.1), the male/
female ratio was 0.42, and the mean preoperative duration of symptoms 10 months (range 6-12).
Only 21 (28%) were unable to work preoperatively and mean sick leave was 4 weeks (range 1-4).
At base-line and at the 3-month follow-up, a self-administered questionnaire was collected
concerning physical, psychological, and social circumstances in relation to the hand problem. Data
from a nerve conduction examination were collected at baseline and at the 3-month follow-up.
Significant prognostic factors were identified through multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results: After the operation, the mean functional score was reduced from 2.3 to 1.4 (SD 0.8) and
the mean symptom score from 2.9 to 1.5 (SD 0.7). The mean sick leave from work after the
operation was 19.8 days (SD 14.3). Eighteen patients (24%) had more than 21 days of sick leave.
Two patients (3%) were still unable to work after 3 months. Significant prognostic factors in the
multivariate analysis for more than 21 days of postoperative sick leave were preoperative sick
leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem and a preoperative distal motor latency.
Conclusion: Preoperative sick leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem, and a preoperative
distal nerve conduction motor latency were prognostic factors for postoperative work absence of
more than 21 days. Other factors may be important (clinical, demographic, economic, and
workplace) in explaining the great variance in the results of sick leave after carpal tunnel release
between studies from different countries.
reduce sick leave compared to open carpal tunnel release, claiming to be a less invasive procedure
and reducing scar tenderness leading to a more rapid return to work, and the purpose of this study
was to identify prognostic factors for prolonged sick leave after endoscopic carpal tunnel release
in a group of employed Danish patients.
Methods: The design was a prospective study including 75 employed patients with carpal tunnel
syndrome operated with ECTR at two hospitals. The mean age was 46 years (SD 10.1), the male/
female ratio was 0.42, and the mean preoperative duration of symptoms 10 months (range 6-12).
Only 21 (28%) were unable to work preoperatively and mean sick leave was 4 weeks (range 1-4).
At base-line and at the 3-month follow-up, a self-administered questionnaire was collected
concerning physical, psychological, and social circumstances in relation to the hand problem. Data
from a nerve conduction examination were collected at baseline and at the 3-month follow-up.
Significant prognostic factors were identified through multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results: After the operation, the mean functional score was reduced from 2.3 to 1.4 (SD 0.8) and
the mean symptom score from 2.9 to 1.5 (SD 0.7). The mean sick leave from work after the
operation was 19.8 days (SD 14.3). Eighteen patients (24%) had more than 21 days of sick leave.
Two patients (3%) were still unable to work after 3 months. Significant prognostic factors in the
multivariate analysis for more than 21 days of postoperative sick leave were preoperative sick
leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem and a preoperative distal motor latency.
Conclusion: Preoperative sick leave, blaming oneself for the hand problem, and a preoperative
distal nerve conduction motor latency were prognostic factors for postoperative work absence of
more than 21 days. Other factors may be important (clinical, demographic, economic, and
workplace) in explaining the great variance in the results of sick leave after carpal tunnel release
between studies from different countries.
| Bidragets oversatte titel | En prospektiv undersøgelse af prognostiske faktorer af sygemeldingers varighed |
|---|---|
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
| Tidsskrift | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Udgave nummer | 10 |
| Antal sider | 6 |
| ISSN | 1471-2474 |
| Status | Udgivet - 2009 |