This prospective observational study assessed the prevalence of cold sensitivity in patients with nerve compression using the Cold Intolerance Symptom Severity (CISS) questionnaire. One hundred patients (72 women, 28 men; mean age 59 years) with carpal tunnel syndrome ( n = 95) or cubital tunnel syndrome ( n = 5) were studied. Fifty-two patients reported symptoms of cold sensitivity with a mean CISS score of 50. Overall, significantly more women (58% vs. 36%) reported cold sensitivity with significantly worse CISS scores than men.
Level of evidence: IV.
Keywords: Cold sensitivity; cold intolerance; nerve compression; prevalence; upper extremity.