ABSTRACT
Electrodiagnostic study has false positive and false negative results, moreover it is invasive and costly. This research aimed to evaluate if this study is obligatory before carpal tunnel release surgery in patients with clinically evident diagnosis, and if this study can predict surgical outcome. A prospective comparative study included 207 cases [mean age+/-standard deviation 42.35+/-11.19 years] diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. One hundred cases had undergone confirmatory electrodiagnostic study [Group 1] while 107 had not [Group 2]. Patients in both groups were comparable for age, symptoms, duration of complaint, and physical findings. Both groups underwent open carpal tunnel release surgery and were evaluated two weeks and six months later by a physician not aware to which group the patient belonged. Response to surgery was comparable between the two groups [excellent in 91%, acceptable in 5.8%, and bad in 4.8% in the first vs. 87.9%, 5.6%, and 6.5% respectively in the second, p=0.493]. Electrodiagnostic study could be omitted in clinically evident carpal tunnel syndrome, even when patient is referred to surgery