Table 1.

Views from clinical faceoff experts on carpal tunnel syndrome and the value of electrodiagnostic tests

	Dr. Graham	Dr. Hammert
Is the surgeon’s job to treat bothersome symptoms or prevent nerve damage?	Symptoms	Neuropathy
Does untreated median neuropathy at the carpal tunnel always progress to nerve damage?	No	Yes
Is atrophy and constant numbness from severe median neuropathy permanent and unresponsive to surgery?	No	Yes
Which is worse: Surgery for symptoms without pathophysiology or surgery for pathophysiology without symptoms?	Surgery for pathophysiology without symptoms is worse	Surgery for symptoms without pathophysiology is worse
Can the average surgeon manage the normal human tendency to misperception, biases, and stress contagion and account for it?	Yes	No
Can the average patient understand the normal human tendency to misperception and bias and account for it?	Yes	No
If surgeons cannot agree on the best role for electrodiagnostic testing, should the patient help decide?	No	Yes