Outcome of Carpal Tunnel Release and the Relation With Depression

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relation between depressive symptoms and outcome of carpal tunnel release (CTR).

Methods: Prospective study in a general hospital with data collection at baseline and 3 and 12 months after CTR. We quantified depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and performed multivariable analyses on 2 outcome measures: (1) carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire [BCTQ]) and (2) palmar pain, focusing on preoperative CES-D and BCTQ score, sex, age, alcohol use, diabetes, and severity of nerve conduction abnormalities.

Results: We included 227 patients. Before surgery, patients with depression had a higher BCTQ score than patients without depression. After 1 year, depressed patients had a higher BCTQ score and more palmar pain. The CES-D decreased by a median of 2 points from baseline to 1 year. This correlated with the decrease in BCTQ score. Multivariable analyses showed that preoperative depression had a small but statistically significant influence on palmar pain, but not on postoperative BCTQ score.

Conclusions: Depression is not an independent predictor of residual CTS symptoms 1 year after CTR. Depressive symptoms in patients with CTS decrease after CTR, along with a decrease in CTS symptoms. The nature of this relationship is unknown. Patients with CTS and depression may expect a somewhat higher degree of palmar pain after CTR, the clinical relevance of which is small.

Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic II.

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; carpal tunnel release; depression; palmar pain.