Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ)
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ; Levine 1993): patient-reported severity and function in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Symptom 1
- 3
- Symptom 2
- 3
- Symptom 3
- 3
- Symptom 4
- 3
- Symptom 5
- 3
- Symptom 6
- 3
- Symptom 7
- 3
- Symptom 8
- 3
- Symptom 9
- 3
- Symptom 10
- 3
The other 9 values
- Symptom 11
- 3
- Activity 1
- 2
- Activity 2
- 2
- Activity 3
- 2
- Activity 4
- 2
- Activity 5
- 2
- Activity 6
- 2
- Activity 7
- 2
- Activity 8
- 2
Result: BCTQ symptom severity 3.00 of 5, functional status 2.00 of 5 - at or above the midpoint of the 1 to 5 range on at least one scale.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- Symptom Severity
- 11 items rated 1-5; the score is the mean of the 11, so it runs 1 to 5.
- Functional Status
- 8 everyday hand activities rated 1-5; the score is the mean of the 8, so it runs 1 to 5.
- Direction
- Higher is more severe on both scales. The two are reported separately and are never added together.
- Scope
- A severity and function measure for following change over time. Not a diagnostic test and not a substitute for nerve conduction studies.
What you enter
- Symptom 1 - hand or wrist pain at night (1-5)
- Symptom 2 - how often pain wakes you at night (1-5)
- Symptom 3 - daytime hand or wrist pain (1-5)
- Symptom 4 - how often daytime pain occurs (1-5)
- Symptom 5 - average length of a daytime pain episode (1-5)
- Symptom 6 - numbness in the hand (1-5)
- Symptom 7 - weakness in the hand or wrist (1-5)
- Symptom 8 - tingling in the hand (1-5)
- Symptom 9 - numbness or tingling at night (1-5)
- Symptom 10 - how often numbness or tingling wakes you (1-5)
The other 9 fields
- Symptom 11 - difficulty grasping small objects (1-5)
- Activity 1 - writing (1-5)
- Activity 2 - fastening buttons (1-5)
- Activity 3 - holding a book while reading (1-5)
- Activity 4 - gripping a telephone handset (1-5)
- Activity 5 - opening jars (1-5)
- Activity 6 - household chores (1-5)
- Activity 7 - carrying grocery bags (1-5)
- Activity 8 - bathing and dressing (1-5)
How this is calculated
Levine DW, Simmons BP, Koris MJ, et al. A self-administered questionnaire for the assessment of severity of symptoms and functional status in carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1993;75(11):1585-1592. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.