Background: Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a complex and costly condition. There is some evidence that the employment outcome may be worse in cases of CTS where the condition is being considered for compensation.
Aim: To examine whether workers' compensation status is an important determinant of outcome of CTS.
Methods: Cases, with a Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) claim, and referents, in work but without a WCB claim, were identified from the practice of a single specialist physician. Data on history prior to and at the time of diagnosis, and events since diagnosis, were collected from clinical records and by a telephone-administered questionnaire. Prior events, severity, treatment and outcome associated with a WCB claim were assessed by logistic regression.
Results: Interviews were successfully completed for 46 cases and 50 referents. In the model adjusted only for age and gender, claimants had a worse outcome in terms of changing job or stopping work with time loss from work due to CTS [odds ratio (OR) 5.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-13.3]. The OR was much influenced by the inclusion of treatment in the model (OR = 9.6, 95% CI 1.6-58.6) with WCB cases more likely to have surgical and physiotherapy treatments. Cases with a WCB claim cost more to treat and reported greater loss in income than those not seeking compensation.
Conclusions: Although these data are limited, the results are suggestive of poorer outcome among WCB claimants despite greater use of treatment and comparable severity of disease.