Presentation Description
Institution: Macquarie University - NSW, Australia
Purpose:
Carpal Tunnel Decompression is an effective treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), however post-operative recovery varies between patients. Although objective preoperative tools have been investigated as predictors of recovery, findings remain inconsistent. This scoping review aims to investigate current literature to establish what is known about the relationship between objective pre-clinical assessments and post-operative recovery in patients with idiopathic CTS.
Methodology:
A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched from database inception to 23rd March 2025. Eligible studies included adults with idiopathic CTS undergoing open or endoscopic decompression, where objective preoperative tools were used to stratify severity, and postoperative recovery outcomes were reported with a minimum follow-up of three months. Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were performed independently by two reviewers, and a third reviewer was used to resolve conflicts.
Results:
Our review included 17 studies published between 1997 and 2024. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were the most investigated modality (82%), followed by ultrasound, electromyography, and carpal tunnel pressure measurement. Nine studies reported an association between preoperative severity and postoperative recovery, while eight found no prognostic value. Where prognostic value was present, greater severity was generally associated with slower or incomplete recovery. Interestingly, although non-NCS modalities showed positive prognostic associations, they were underrepresented in the literature.
Conclusion:
Current evidence does not support a reliable objective preoperative prognostic tool for predicting recovery after carpal tunnel decompression. Further prospective and multimodal studies are needed to improve prognostic accuracy and counsel patients.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Mr Yusef Hafez - , Ms Elizabeth Prins - , Mr Mukesh Ramnarayan - , Dr Mohammed Baba - , A/Prof Candice Delcourt -
