1 Before you use it
What it is
The carpal tunnel measure, and one of the few condition-specific instruments in the wrist chapter. Two subscales — an 11-item Symptom Severity Scale and an 8-item Functional Status Scale.
When to reach for it
Any suspected or confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome, at baseline, before and after any intervention, and as the outcome for a splinting or nerve-glide trial with a set decision point.
Patterns it serves · 1
2 Giving it
Scoring
Each item 1–5; each subscale is reported as its own mean, 1–5. Do not combine them into a single number — they are separate constructs and are reported separately.
Lower is better. Note that the floor is 1, not 0.
What it doesn’t measure
It does not diagnose. Nerve conduction studies, the sensory examination, thenar bulk and the localising questions all sit outside it.
And it is specific to the median nerve at the wrist — it does not transfer to ulnar tunnel or cubital tunnel. Use QuickDASH or UEFI there.
Repeat it
3 Reading the score
Interpreting it
Interpret against baseline.
The symptom subscale includes night symptoms, which is the item that tracks most closely with what patients care about and what makes them accept surgery.
Is the change real?
On placement
Carpal tunnel syndrome, six weeks into night splinting and nerve gliding. Symptom Severity Scale 3.4 → 2.3; Function Scale 2.8 → 2.4.
Read it as symptoms fell 1.1, over the 1-point MCID on the Symptom Severity Scale (measured in carpal tunnel syndrome). Function fell 0.4, short of its 0.7-point MCID. The night symptoms have settled; the hand still isn't being used normally.
Do keep the two numbers separate in the notes, and turn the plan toward function — grip, fine motor, the tasks the patient names — before you call it done.
Student trap. Averaging both subscales into one score. Symptoms and function are reported separately, and they move at different rates.
Official source: null. We don't host the form.
This is a learning tool. It does not diagnose patients and does not replace your clinical educator.
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