Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: General Orthopaedics
Abstract number: 25847
THE DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF USING A
HANDHELD CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME TESTING DEVICE AT A SMALL
DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Daniel HARLE, Peter KENYON, Jochen FISCHER
Macclesfeld District General Hospital, Cheshire (UNITED KINGDOM)
Objective: The diagnostic utility and cost effectiveness of the Mediracer handheld
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) tester used at a small district general hospital were
evaluated. METHOD: Using the test device, the sensory nerve conductions in the
median nerve were tested in 23 patients presenting with symptoms of CTS over a
two month period. Data were analysed to determine the diagnostic utility of the
device and to determine the cost effectiveness of using the device compared to that
of using more formal nerve conduction studies for CTS. RESULTS: 30 tests were
performed lasting approximately 25 minutes. All tests were performed to confirm or
refute a diagnosis of CTS. All patients would have been referred for formal nerve
conduction studies otherwise. We were unable to obtain readings on 3 patients. 4 of
23 patients were referred for further nerve conduction studies with only 2 because
the device did not work. Total cost of Mediracer tests including the cost of 4 formal
nerve conduction studies was 1370 pounds. Total cost of the formal nerve
conductions studies what would have been required if the Mediracer device was not
used would have been 5100 pounds. Total savings of using the Mediracer CTS
device was 3730 pounds. Conclusion: The findings obtained with the Mediracer CTS
device were reliable and reproducible. The cost effectiveness of using the devise
compared to that of formal CTS tests was significant, with potential annual savings at
a small district general hospital between 15,000 to 20,000 pounds.
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