Evidence map›Paper›PMID 15495070›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2004

Surgical treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome.

R J P M Scholten, A A M Gerritsen, B M J Uitdehaag, D van Geldere, H C W de Vet, L M Bouter

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2004. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. A one-stop carpal tunnel clinic.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2009
    Article
  5. Carpal tunnel syndrome.The Ulster medical journal · 2008
    Review
  6. Carpal tunnel syndrome.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2007
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

R J P M ScholtenDutch Cochrane Centre, PO Box 22700, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1100 DE. r.j.scholten@amc.uva.nl
A A M Gerritsen
B M J Uitdehaag
D van Geldere
H C W de Vet
L M Bouter

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCarpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder, for which several surgical treatment options are available.

objectivesTo compare the efficacy of the various surgical techniques in relieving symptoms and promoting return to work and/or activities of daily living and to compare the occurrence of side-effects and complications, in patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. SEARCH STRATEGY: We updated the searches in 2003. We conducted computer-aided searches of the trials register of the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group (searched in July 2003), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to August 2003), EMBASE (January 1980 to August 2003) and tracked references in bibliographies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing various surgical techniques for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers performed study selection, assessment of methodological quality and data abstraction independently of each other. MAIN

resultsTwenty-three studies were included in the review. The methodological quality of the trials was fair to good. However, the application of allocation concealment was mentioned explicitly in only one trial. Many studies failed to present the results in sufficient detail to enable statistical pooling. Pooling was also impeded by the vast variety of outcome measures that were applied in the various studies. None of the existing alternatives to standard open carpal tunnel release seem to offer better relief from symptoms in the short- or long-term. There was conflicting evidence about whether endoscopic carpal tunnel release resulted in earlier return to work and/or activities of daily living than open carpal tunnel release. REVIEWERS'

conclusionsThere is no strong evidence supporting the need for replacement of standard open carpal tunnel release by existing alternative surgical procedures for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID15495070

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.