The carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical evaluation and results of surgical decompression.

We reviewed 357 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome who had surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel between January 1989 and April 1991. The male to female ratio was 1:6. In 40 patients, there was bilateral involvement. Only 38.5% of the patients complained of numbness or sensory disturbance in the median nerve distribution of the hand. Tinel and Phalen sign tests were positive in about two-thirds of the patients. Electromyographic studies were performed in 329 patients. The commonest surgical procedure was a simple release of the flexor retinaculum at the wrist. Nearly all the patients reported improved symptoms.