Carpal tunnel syndrome: a series observed at Jordan University Hospital (JUH), June 1999-December 2000.

One hundred and eighty five consecutive patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) seen at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) over an 18-month-period were studied retrospectively. Mean age=45 years (range 19-80); 156 females, 29 males. The most common predisposing factors were stressful manual work, followed by diabetes mellitus and obesity (body mass index, BMI>29). The most frequent symptoms were nocturnal hand paresthesiae. The respective sensitivities of Tinel and Phalen signs were 61 and 46%. The diagnostic yield of nerve conduction studies (NCS) was 80% and the most sensitive NCS technique was the median palm-to-wrist (PW) technique with a yield of 61%. Seventy percent of the hands with electrophysiological CTS were moderate and severe. One hundred and forty patients received conservative treatment and 45 underwent surgical decompression.