Median nerve recovery in carpal tunnel syndrome.

We studied recovery of median nerve function in operated elderly and younger patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, compared to nonoperated patients, using neurophysiological methods. Three groups were analyzed separately: elderly operated (n = 16, aged 70 to 89); younger operated (n = 83, aged 30 to 69); and nonoperated (n = 52, aged 25 to 83). The elderly operated patients had significant improvement after surgery in all sensory nerve variables and a decrease in motor distal latency. The results were comparable to the results in the younger operated patients. In the nonoperated hands, the same neurophysiological variables were also significantly improved, but to a lesser extent than in the operated hands. Overall symptom relief was better in the operated hands.