Comparison of carpal tunnel release with three different techniques

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Hand Surgery

Background:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent upper limb compression neuropathy.
• Surgical intervention is indicated when conservative treatments for CTS prove ineffective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical outcomes of carpal tunnel release using three distinct surgical techniques: regular open incision, mid-palmar mini incision, and endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
• To evaluate patient satisfaction and symptom relief across different time points post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A clinical trial involving 105 patients (10 males, 95 females) who were candidates for carpal tunnel surgery.
• Surgical procedures included regular open incision, mid-palmar mini incision, or endoscopic techniques.
• Clinical outcomes were assessed at one week, four weeks, and four months post-operation.

Main Results:

• Patients undergoing endoscopic and mid-palmar mini incision carpal tunnel release reported superior relief and satisfaction within the first month compared to the open incision group.
• All three surgical techniques demonstrated comparable outcomes at the four-month follow-up.
• Night pain and paresthesia showed the most significant improvement by four months, while weakness exhibited the least improvement.
• Longer incision lengths correlated with a delayed return to work.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic and mini incision techniques for carpal tunnel release provide enhanced early patient satisfaction compared to the traditional open incision method.
• No significant difference in outcomes was observed between endoscopic and mini incision techniques at the four-month follow-up.
• The choice of surgical technique impacts early recovery and patient satisfaction in carpal tunnel syndrome treatment.