Purpose
Sleep disturbance due to nighttime awakening is a well-documented symptom of carpal
tunnel syndrome. While relief of nighttime waking following carpal tunnel release
(CTR) has been demonstrated, the effect of CTR on overall sleep quality has not been
fully investigated. We hypothesized that CTR would result in significant improvement
in overall sleep quality as well as patients’ overall satisfaction with their sleep
habits.
Methods
Cases of carpal tunnel syndrome with positive nerve studies, and treated with CTR,
were prospectively enrolled. Demographic data, electromyography (EMG) severity, Quick
Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, and Insomnia Severity Index
(ISI) scale data were collected.
Results
A total of 398 patients were enrolled, with 99% available at 2 weeks and 64% available
at 3-month final follow-up. At final follow-up, average Quick Disabilities of the
Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score improved significantly from the preoperative value.
Average ISI score on all 7 sleep categories on the survey improved significantly from
before surgery to the first postoperative visit. However, the total ISI score did
not further improve significantly between the 2-week and the 3-month postoperative
visits. The ISI score improvements did not correlate with EMG severity.
Conclusions
Patients undergoing CTR demonstrated significant improvement in mean scores for 7
aspects of sleep quality. Sleep improvement was unrelated to preoperative EMG severity
and was experienced within 2 weeks of surgery.
Type of study/level of evidence
Therapeutic II.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 27, 2017
Accepted:
February 9,
2017
Received:
January 23,
2017
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
