Table 1.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion		Exclusion
Symptoms in at least two digits on one hand (to include thumb, index, middle, or ring finger.)		Wrist or hand surgery within last 6 months
Hand/ wrist symptoms >1 week		Previous CTS release on study hand
Expect to stay in area for 1 year.		Moderate to severe arthritis involving hand or wrist
Willing and able to complete phone interviews		Known tumor, mass, or deformity in the hand or wrist
Over age 18		History of severe trauma to the wrist.
Able to complete questionnaires in English		Pregnant or lactating
Any one of these EDS findings	Motor: Median motor latency (wrist) > = 4.4 ms	Median Motor amplitude <= 3.8 mV
	Sensory: median-radial (10 cm thumb to wrist) difference >0.5 ms	EMG (if done) evidence of denervation
	Sensory: Midpalm median-ulnar (8 cm) difference >0.3 ms	Evidence of diffuse peripheral neuropathy.
	Sensory: Median-ulnar (14 cm digit IV to wrist) difference >0.4 ms	Thenar atrophy
	Sensory: Combined Sensory index > = 1.0 ms
	(With normal EDS) Night pain that wakes patient AND Positive flick test
Classic, probable, or possible hand pain diagram.
Two consecutive weeks of standard (non-surgical) treatment for CTS, including a trial of wrist splints.
Lack of improvement with conservative treatment documented by at least one of the following:	Improvement less than 0.75 in the CTSAQ functional?
	Unable to achieve "satisfactory" level of work
	Patient defined symptoms as being "same" or "worse" over the last two weeks.
Willing to schedule surgery within one week of randomization.