Background: We evaluated the correlation between Japanese versions of patient-oriented questionnaires and electrophysiological examinations in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Methods: A series of 45 patients who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and subsequently underwent carpal tunnel release surgery were analyzed. There were 8 men and 37 women with an average age of 64.8 years. They completed the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument (CTSI-JSSH), which consisted of a Symptom Severity Score (CTSI-JSSH-SS), Functional Score (CTSI-JSSH-FS), and Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version-Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH-JSSH) both preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were also performed and included motor distal latency (MDL) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) measurements. The responsiveness of each instrument was evaluated by calculating the standardized response mean (SRM) and effect size (ES). Correlation coefficients between preoperative and postoperative questionnaire scores and NCS parameters were calculated.
Results: Responsiveness (SRM/ES) was as follows: CTSI-JSSH-SS (-1.06/-1.14), CTSI-JSSH-FS (-0.75/-0.74), Quick-DASH-JSSH (-0.65/-0.62), MDL (-1.45/-1.11), and the neurophysiological stage of the disease (-0.90/-1.42). No significant correlation was observed between the preoperative and postoperative patient-oriented questionnaires and nerve conduction studies (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Although NCSs and the Japanese version of patient-oriented questionnaires are highly responsive to treatment, they are not parallel. Multifaceted assessment of CTS treatment is possible by performing both outcome measurements.