We investigated the value of the carpal compression test (CCT) and the pressure provocative test (PPT) in predicting carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a predominantly male population of veterans. We performed a prospective, blinded comparison of these clinical diagnostic tests with neurophysiological testing. One cohort of 135 consecutive patients was assessed with the CCT; a separate cohort of 134 consecutive patients was assessed with the PPT. Of these 269 patients, 58.4% had electrodiagnostically confirmed CTS. The sensitivity of the CCT was 52.5%, specificity was 61.8%, positive predictive value was 66.6%, and the negative predictive value was 47. 2%. The sensitivity of the PPT was 54.5%, specificity was 68.4%, positive predictive value was 70%, and the negative predictive value was 52.7%. The CCT and PPT had minimal utility in predicting electrodiagnostically confirmed CTS. In a subset of the CCT cohort, 86 consecutive veterans were also evaluated in relation to a clinical gold standard. Of these patients, 60% had CTS based on this gold standard. CCT sensitivity was 53.8%, specificity was 61.8%, positive predictive value was 68.3%, and negative predictive value was 46.7%. The CCT thus had marginal utility in predicting CTS based on a clinical gold standard.
Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.