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Effects of Varying Case Definition on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Prevalence Estimates in a Pooled Cohort
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Effects of Varying Case Definition on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Prevalence Estimates in a Pooled Cohort

Matthew S. Thiese, Fred Gerr, Kurt T. Hegmann, Carisa Harris-Adamson, Ann Marie Dale, Bradley Evanoff, Ellen A. Eisen, Jay Kapellusch, Arun Garg, Susan Burt, …
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Vol.95(12), pp.2320-2326
12/2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.08.004
PMCID: PMC4342110
PMID: 25175160
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4342110View
Open Access

Abstract

To analyze differences in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) prevalence using a combination of electrodiagnostic studies (EDSs) and symptoms using EDS criteria varied across a range of cutpoints and compared with symptoms in both ≥1 and ≥2 median nerve–served digits. Pooled data from 5 prospective cohorts. Hand-intensive industrial settings, including manufacturing, assembly, production, service, construction, and health care. Employed, working-age participants who are able to provide consent and undergo EDS testing (N=3130). None. CTS prevalence was estimated while varying the thresholds for median sensory latency, median motor latency, and transcarpal delta latency difference. EDS criteria examined included the following: median sensory latency of 3.3 to 4.1 milliseconds, median motor latency of 4.1 to 4.9 milliseconds, and median-ulnar sensory difference of 0.4 to 1.2 milliseconds. EDS criteria were combined with symptoms in ≥1 or ≥2 median nerve–served digits. EDS criteria from other published studies were applied to allow for comparison. CTS prevalence ranged from 6.3% to 11.7%. CTS prevalence estimates changed most per millisecond of sensory latency compared with motor latency or transcarpal delta. CTS prevalence decreased by 0.9% to 2.0% if the criteria required symptoms in 2 digits instead of 1. There are meaningful differences in CTS prevalence when different EDS criteria are applied. The digital sensory latency criteria result in the largest variance in prevalence.
Carpal tunnel syndrome Diagnostic techniques and procedures Electrodiagnosis Prevalence Rehabilitation Standards

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