Bilateral simultaneous open carpal tunnel release: a prospective study of postoperative activities of daily living and patient satisfaction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine patient function and satisfaction prospectively after bilateral simultaneous open carpal tunnel release (CTR).

METHODS

Twenty patients (40 CTR) completed a questionnaire regarding postoperative activities of daily living (ADL), return to work, procedure satisfaction (visual analog scale), and willingness to have the surgery again.

RESULTS

The average patient age was 43 years (range, 23-73 y). The hardest task was opening a jar; the easiest task was using the bathroom. Other tasks on the list in descending order of difficulty included driving, household chores, carrying groceries, buttoning, bathing, cooking, writing, dressing, shopping, holding a book, eating, computer use, and holding a phone. Average return to work was 2.6 weeks (range, 3 d-6 wk). Average satisfaction with the surgery was 9.6 of 10 (range, 8-10); 20 of 20 patients (100%) would have the bilateral simultaneous surgery again.

CONCLUSIONS

These data are useful for patient education and decision making when considering surgery in patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and show that bilateral simultaneous open CTR is a feasible and useful procedure.