Endoscopic carpal tunnel release with or without suture: Does it make a difference? A case-control study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Plastic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition requiring surgical intervention.
• Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is a widely used minimally invasive technique.
• Wound closure methods can impact aesthetic outcomes and patient comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the aesthetic results of sutureless versus sutured wound closure after single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different wound management techniques in terms of scar appearance.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 108 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Patients were divided into two groups: sutureless wound closure (64 patients) and intradermal running suture closure (44 patients).
• Aesthetic outcomes were assessed using the Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) at 3 months post-operation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in age, gender, or occupation between the two groups.
• The mean Manchester Scar Scale scores were not significantly different between the sutureless (6.64 ± 1.21) and sutured (6.45 ± 1.09) groups (p=0.529).
• Sutureless closure allows for potential hematoma evacuation, which may alleviate post-operative pain.

Conclusions:

• Sutureless wound closure is a safe and effective option following endoscopic carpal tunnel release, yielding comparable aesthetic results to sutured closures.
• This technique may offer advantages in managing post-operative hematomas and associated discomfort.
• The findings support sutureless closure as a practical alternative in endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery.