History Interview Topics
Moderate evidence supports not using the following as independent history interview topics to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, because alone, each has a poor or weak association with ruling-in or ruling-out carpal tunnel syndrome:
• Sex/gender
• Ethnicity
• Bilateral symptoms
• Diabetes mellitus
• Worsening symptoms at night
• Duration of symptoms
• Patient localization of symptoms
• Hand dominance
• Symptomatic limb
• Age
• BMI
• Sex/gender
• Ethnicity
• Bilateral symptoms
• Diabetes mellitus
• Worsening symptoms at night
• Duration of symptoms
• Patient localization of symptoms
• Hand dominance
• Symptomatic limb
• Age
• BMI
Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Endorsed by: ASSH, ASPS, ACR, ACS, ASA
MODERATE RECOMMENDATION Rationale
Two high quality studies (Claes, 2013; Katz, 1990) and several moderate quality studies investigated the relationship between history interview topics and CTS as compared to a reference standard which was the use of either EDS following AANEM criteria or general EDS methods. When examined individually, each of the factors listed above had a poor or weak association with EDS based on the likelihood ratio. Sex/gender data pooled in a meta-analysis, also showed a poor association with electrodiagnostic testing.
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- Bland,J.D. The value of the history in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Br; 2000/10: 5
- Claes,F.; Kasius,K.M.; Meulstee,J.; Verhagen,W.I. Comparing a new ultrasound approach with electrodiagnostic studies to confirm clinically defined carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective, blinded study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil.; 2013/11: 11
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- Katz,J.N.; Stirrat,C.R. A self-administered hand diagram for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Am; 1990/3: 2
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- Makanji,H.S.; Becker,S.J.; Mudgal,C.S.; Jupiter,J.B.; Ring,D. Evaluation of the scratch collapse test for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Eur.Vol.; 2014/2: 2
- Taylor-Gjevre,R.M.; Gjevre,J.A.; Nair,B. Suspected carpal tunnel syndrome: Do nerve conduction study results and symptoms match?. Can Fam Physician; 2010/7: 7
- Yagci,I.; Gunduz,O.H.; Sancak,S.; Agirman,M.; Mesci,E.; Akyuz,G. Comparative electrophysiological techniques in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Diabetes Res.Clin Pract.; 2010/5: 2