Quality of life effects of pain from para-lumbar- and lower extremity entrapment syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome and comparison of the effectiveness of surgery

We compared the preoperative quality of life (QOL) of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity-, and para-lumbar entrapment syndrome, and the effect of surgery on their QOL. We prospectively enrolled 66 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (group 1, n = 23), lower extremity entrapment syndrome (group 2, n = 22), and para-lumbar entrapment syndrome (group 3, n = 21). Their pre- and postoperative overall health status was assessed on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey, v2 (SF-36). Except for the mental component summary, the preoperative score for items rated on the SF-36 was significantly lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). In all 66 patients, the scores for bodily pain (BP) and the physical component summary (PCS) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the national standard, as was the score for physical functioning (PF) in groups 2 and 3. After surgery, PF of group 2 and PF, BP, and PCS of group 3 improved significantly (p < 0.05). The detrimental QOL effects are stronger in patients with para-lumbar- or lower extremity entrapment syndrome than in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.