Objective
To compare the surgical outcomes of carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Method: Among the patients who underwent carpal tunnel release for carpal tunnel syndrome, 44 subjects (77 hands) were recruited and classified into two patient groups: group 1 composed of 20 subject (36 hands) with diabetes mellitus and group 2 with 24 subjects (41 hands) without diabetes mellitus. Electrodiagnostic parameters were included onset latency, peak latency, and amplitude of median motor and sensory nerves pre- and postoperatively. Also symptom (visual analogue scale) and complication were assessed.Results: Postoperative evaluation was done at 42.8 months and 84.5 months in patients groups 1 and 2, respectively. All the electrodiagnostic parameters and symptoms showed improvement postoperatively in both groups of patients (p＜0.05), but showed no significant difference between the two groups (p＞0.05). Conclusion: To relieve the carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients, as in non diabetic patients, surgical release of carpal tunnel would be considered positively. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2005; 29: 70-75)
