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. 2009 May;91(4):301-4.
doi: 10.1308/003588409X391910. Epub 2009 Feb 13.

A one-stop carpal tunnel clinic

M J Reid  1 , L A David, J E Nicholl
Affiliations

A one-stop carpal tunnel clinic

M J Reid et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2009 May.

Abstract

Introduction: By December 2008, 90% of referrals requiring hospital admission will need to be seen and treated within the 18-week patient pathway. Previously, patients within our trust with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome had to wait 3 months to see a specialist in clinic and, once assessed, would have to wait up to a further 6 months for an open carpal tunnel decompression under local anaesthetic (OCTD/LA). We set up a one-stop clinic, where patients would have their out-patient consultation and surgery on the same day. We evaluated the clinic in order to assess whether it led to reduced waiting times whilst maintaining good clinical outcome and patient satisfaction.

Patients and methods: Patients were selected on the basis of the standard referral letter alone. Those selected were then assessed by a single surgeon in the clinic. The patients deemed appropriate underwent an OCTD/LA and were discharged the same day. Patients were followed up with a patient satisfaction and Boston questionnaire.

Results: Forty-six patients underwent 63 OCTD/LA, waiting an average of 2.2 months (9 weeks) from referral. There was high patient satisfaction and improvement in symptoms following treatment in the clinic.

Conclusions: We believe a one-stop carpal tunnel clinic can be an efficient and cost-effective way of treating this common condition.

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Comment in

  • Comment on: Truly one-stop?
    Clay NR. Clay NR. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2009 Nov;91(8):718; author reply 718-9. doi: 10.1308/003588409x12486167521352. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2009. PMID: 19909617 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Lack of cost analysis.
    Middleton FR. Middleton FR. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010 Jan;92(1):86; author reply 86. doi: 10.1308/003588410x12518836439489. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010. PMID: 20056070 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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