Gender differences in outcome after open carpal tunnel release

Abstract

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common amongst women. We investigated gender differences in neurographyvalues preoperatively and in QuickDASH scores before and at one year after open carpal tunnel release.Methods: Patients that underwent open carpal tunnel release (n=493) during 18 months due to primary CTS were enrolled.Data were collected from medical records, QuickDASH questionnaires and preoperative neurographies. The patients filledout the QuickDASH questionnaire pre- and at 12 months postoperatively and were instructed to rate his/her ability [rangefrom 0 (no difficulty) to 5 (impossible to perform)] to do the listed activities during the last week.Results: Preoperatively, women (n=343) had higher sensory amplitudes in the median nerve in the thumb (median 7 μVIQR 3-12 vs. 3 IQR 0-7; p