Risk factors, symptom severity and functional status among patients with carpel tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to a constellation of symptoms resulting from compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The characteristic symptoms include pain and numbness in the hands.

Aim: To identify the risk factors responsible for carpal tunnel syndrome, to identify the symptom severity as well as functional status of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, and to determine the relationship between symptom severity and functional status among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Settings and design: A non-experimental descriptive study was conducted.

Materials and methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess the risk factors. Standardized questionnaires included the symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS).

Results: The risk factors assessed were the female gender (64%), premorbidities (75%), diabetes mellitus (53%), hypertension (25%), dyslipidemia (24%), osteoarthritis (8%), and impaired thyroid functions (10%). Fifty-one patients were overweight and 8 were obese. There was an association between symptom severity and presence of any of the premorbidities (χ² = 5.80; P < 0.05). There was also an association between symptom severity and diabetes mellitus (χ² = 13.62; P < 0.05). A positive correlation was also noted between the symptom severity and the functional status of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (r = 0.705; P = 0.00).

Conclusions: Prompt recognition, timely management, and avoidance of risk factors responsible for the manifestations of carpal tunnel syndrome have practical implications in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; functional status; risk factors; symptom severity.