BCTQ · Boston Carpal Tunnel · Symptom & Function Scales
Enter Subscale Raw Totals
Symptom Profile
Guidelines & Evidence
Verified
Last Review: 2026
When to Use
When to Use
Assess symptom severity and functional impairment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
Guide conservative vs. surgical management decision-making
Track response to splinting, corticosteroid injection, or surgical release
Outcome measure in CTS clinical trials (recommended by CTSI, AAOS, and NICE)
Used alongside NCS to correlate electrophysiological severity with patient-reported outcomes
Two Subscales
Symptom Severity Scale (SSS): 11 items — pain severity, nocturnal symptoms, time with symptoms, frequency, tingling, numbness, weakness, grip difficulty. Functional Status Scale (FSS): 8 items — writing, buttoning, holding book, telephone, opening jars, housework, carrying groceries, bathing/dressing. Each item scored 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (maximum difficulty). Subscale scores = mean of items (1–5 scale).
Related Scores in Practice
In clinical practice, this assessment is frequently evaluated alongside other validated measures. Depending on the patient's presentation and specific diagnostic requirements, you may also need to utilize the Cts Stevens Grading, NCS Reference Values Interpreter, Ulnar Mcgowan Grading or the QuickDASH (Upper Limb Disability) to formulate a comprehensive care plan.
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026