Radiographs and Corticosteroid Injections at a New Patient Visit for Care of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow.

ABSTRACT: Introduction  The benefit of radiographs or steroid injection for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is open to debate. We assessed: (1) Radiographs ordered and injections performed at a new patient visit for patients presenting with either idiopathic CTS or UNE; (2) The estimated payment reduction if we omit these interventions; and (3) Patient age, sex, geographic region, and work status associated with radiographs or injections at a new patient visit for patients presenting with either idiopathic CTS or UNE. Materials and Methods  Using a large database of commercial insurance claims, we identified patients with a new visit for either CTS ( N = 9,522), UNE ( N = 2,507), or both ( N = 962; 8.7%). We identified

SUBMITTER: Kortlever JTP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9568369 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature