The effect of age and gender upon symptoms and surgical outcomes in carpal tunnel syndrome

There is conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of carpal tunnel release in older patients. This is a prospective study which evaluates the impact of age and gender upon symptoms, self-reported disability and surgical outcome in a series of 97 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptom severity, hand function and patient satisfaction were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and the Patient Evaluation Measure. A statistical correlation of age and gender with symptoms, hand function and surgical outcome was performed with questionnaires administered before open carpal tunnel decompression and 6 months after surgery. Women reported greater pre-operative symptoms and disability than men, but there was no gender-related difference in surgical outcome or patient satisfaction. There was no difference in surgical outcome between patients 60 and 70 years of age and younger patients. The majority of patients over the age of 70 reported an improvement in symptoms and function, but they were less satisfied with their treatment than younger patients. Some patients had problems with persistent numbness and loss of dexterity following surgery. The outcome of carpal tunnel release in terms of improvement in the symptom and functional scores is sufficient to justify surgery in the elderly, but surgical outcomes are less predictable than in younger patients and we recommend that this is explained to them when obtaining consent for surgery.