Can single-stop carpal tunnel syndrome assessment clinics reduce waiting time to surgery?

At the one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic, patients undergo neurophysiological studies followed by clinical assessment by the orthopaedic consultant on the same day. Patients with paraesthesia or numbness in the median nerve distribution for greater than three months duration without a history of a previous soft tissue neck injury were selected for assessment in the one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic based on a proforma completed by their general practitioners. Data of patients attending the one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic over a ten-month period were compared with that over the same period from a conventional hand clinic. A total of 77 patients attended the one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic over a ten-month period. The mean time from referral to surgery was 23 weeks in this group compared to 44 weeks for a conventional clinic. On average, the one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic reduced the time from referral to surgery by 21 weeks. The one-stop carpal tunnel syndrome clinic is convenient and cost effective for patients and hospitals.