Narrow Results

Background: Clinical quality measures exist for non-operative management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Factors predicting adherence are unclear.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic CTS using MarketScan Research Database (2015–2020) was conducted. Six logistic regression models were designed to study adherence to quality measures within 1 year after diagnosis.

Results: Of 782,717 patients identified, 514,073 (65.7%) were female with an average (SD) age of 51.4 (13.4) years. Only 88 patients (0.01%) met all quality measures. Greatest compliance observed with receipt of nerve conduction study (NCS; 283,959 [36.3%]), no prescription of medications (336,297 [43.0%]) and no laser therapy (772,979 [98.8%]); 294,305 patients (37.6%) received hand surgeon referral. Hand surgeon referral predicted higher likelihood of NCS and splinting (OR, 1.83; 95% CI: 1.81–1.84; OR, 2.53; 95% CI: 2.50–2.56) and medication over-prescription (OR, 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00–1.10). Females were more likely to be referred to a hand surgeon and be referred for splinting (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.03; OR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.18–1.21) but less likely to have no prescriptions or avoid laser therapy (OR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.84–0.85; OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.79–0.86). Medicare recipients adhered less to quality measures compared to patients with fee-for-service insurance. As comorbidities increased, patients were less likely to receive hand surgeon referral and carpal tunnel release.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that hand surgery referrals increased adherence to quality measures. Females, Medicare recipients and multimorbid patients should be targeted for improved care. Future quality care efforts should incentivise adherence for Medicare beneficiaries and improve guideline recognition amongst physicians.

Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)