One hundred and eighty five consecutive patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) seen at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) over an 18-month-period were studied retrospectively. Mean age=45 years (range 19-80); 156 females, 29 males. The most common predisposing factors were stressful manual work, followed by diabetes mellitus and obesity (body mass index, BMI>29). The most frequent symptoms were nocturnal hand paresthesiae. The respective sensitivities of Tinel and Phalen signs were 61 and 46%. The diagnostic yield of nerve conduction studies (NCS) was 80% and the most sensitive NCS technique was the median palm-to-wrist (PW) technique with a yield of 61%. Seventy percent of the hands with electrophysiological CTS were moderate and severe. One hundred and forty patients received conservative treatment and 45 underwent surgical decompression.

Institution
Neurology Section, Internal Medicine Department, Jordan University Hospital, PO Box 13046, Amman, Jordan.  jacobbahou@hotmail.com