Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Requiring Surgical Decompression: A 10.5-Year Review of 2,309 Patients.

PURPOSE: To describe the demographics, neurophysiological grading, and incidence of patients undergoing carpal tunnel decompression (CTD) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a single region.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 2,313 patients aged greater than 16 years who underwent 3,073 CTDs between January 2000 and August 2010. Crude annual and age- and sex-specific incidences were calculated for the study period. Nerve conduction study grades were recorded and compared with age and sex.

RESULTS

Of the 2,313 patients 1,419 (61%) were female and 890 (39%) were male. Mean age at surgery was 56 years (range, 16-93 years). Females had a significantly higher CTD incidence compared with males (161 vs 108/100,000 person-years, respectively). The highest rates of CTD were seen in the 70- to 79-year age group for both men and women (307/100,000 person-years). Neurophysiological grade increased in severity with increasing age despite using an age-adjusted grading system, with higher grades in patients aged greater than 65 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome has the highest incidence in older people who tend to have more severe neurophysiological changes.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.