A Screening Tool for the Early Detection of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

We conducted a preliminary comparative study of 32 carpal tunnel syndrome patients and a control group of 60 individuals matched for age, gender, height, and weight. Our aim is to determine a diagnostic cutoff score for a screening tool we had developed by carefully selecting questions based on the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand version of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument (CTSI-JSSH). The results were analyzed by using a ROC curve and Youden’s index, and the cutoff score was determined to be 7, indicating that subjects scoring ≥ 7 were positive for CTS. We then used this cutoff score to create a 2 × 2 contingency table to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency of the tool. The values obtained were the same as, or higher than, those in previous studies. The screening tool that we developed has the advantages of low cost and low risk; furthermore, it allows for quick self-assessment. Our next step will be to conduct a field survey using a large number of subjects to verify the usefulness of the tool. Hirosaki Med.J. 66:48―54,2015