Evolution of hand dysfunction and symptoms in untreated carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Italian Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Study Group assessed the evolution of symptoms and hand dysfunction through validated, patient-oriented measures in 264 patients with 354 hands affected by untreated idiopathic CTS (follow-up 10-15 months). The evolution of symptoms and hand dysfunction was positively related. Only in 3% was there discordance between hand dysfunction and symptom evolution. Thus, in patients with CTS, hand dysfunction and symptoms evolve in parallel.