Symptomatic relief following carpal tunnel decompression with normal electroneuromyographic studies.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequently encountered clinical entity. A retrospective study of a selected patient population revealed 12% of patients to have normal electrodiagnostic studies. Operative release of the transverse carpal ligament in these patients alleviated median nerve entrapment symptoms. Entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve remains a clinical diagnosis, and absolute reliance on electrodiagnostic studies is unwarranted when making a decision to surgically treat a patient with a suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.