Carpal tunnel syndrome: influencing factors affecting post surgical recovery rates for functional hand recovery

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most prevalent cumulative trauma disorders among assembly line workers and computer operators employed in highly repetitive jobs. The treatment options available have included the following: conservative course of therapy, job changes, steroid injections, splinting, and/or surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine the following: Of the people that acquire Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and seek surgical intervention, does the time elapsed between initial experiencing of the symptomatology to the actual surgical intervention play a role in their actual recovery rates from the syndrome? A retrospective study was undertaken to review data collected from an out-patient Occupational Therapy setting. Data taken from a 6 year period was analyzed to determine if days of median nerve compression affected post-surgical grip strength recovery rates. In conclusion, less than 10% of the sample recovered 75% or more of normal grip strength after surgery. There was no statistical significance found between post-surgical grip strength recovery and days of median nerve compression.